Mobileye to End Internal Lidar Development
Mobileye (MBLY) has decided to end internal development of next-generation FMCW lidar for autonomous and highly automated driving systems. This decision is based on advancements in EyeQ6-based computer vision perception, improved imaging radar performance, and cost reductions in third-party time-of-flight lidar units. The company emphasizes that this change does not impact any customer product programs or general product development.
The lidar R&D unit will be wound down by the end of 2024, affecting about 100 employees. Operating expenses for this unit are expected to total approximately $60 million in 2024. While not materially impacting 2024 results, this action will reduce future lidar development spending. Mobileye continues to prioritize imaging radar development, which is meeting performance specifications and is expected to enter production next year.
Mobileye (MBLY) ha deciso di interrompere lo sviluppo interno del lidar FMCW di nuova generazione per sistemi di guida autonoma e altamente automatizzati. Questa decisione è basata sui progressi nella percezione della visione computazionale basata su EyeQ6, sul miglioramento delle prestazioni dei radar di imaging e sulla riduzione dei costi delle unità lidar a tempo di volo di terze parti. L'azienda sottolinea che questo cambiamento non influisce su nessun programma di prodotto per i clienti o sullo sviluppo generale dei prodotti.
Il gruppo di ricerca e sviluppo del lidar verrà chiuso entro la fine del 2024, coinvolgendo circa 100 dipendenti. Le spese operative per questa unità dovrebbero ammontare a circa 60 milioni di dollari nel 2024. Sebbene non influisca materialmente sui risultati del 2024, questa azione ridurrà la spesa futura per lo sviluppo del lidar. Mobileye continua a dare priorità allo sviluppo del radar di imaging, che sta rispettando le specifiche di prestazione e è previsto che entri in produzione l'anno prossimo.
Mobileye (MBLY) ha decidido poner fin al desarrollo interno del lidar FMCW de nueva generación para sistemas de conducción autónoma y altamente automatizados. Esta decisión se basa en los avances en la percepción de visión por computadora basada en EyeQ6, la mejora del rendimiento del radar de imagen y la reducción de costos en las unidades de lidar de tiempo de vuelo de terceros. La compañía enfatiza que este cambio no afecta a ninguno de los programas de productos de los clientes ni al desarrollo general de productos.
La unidad de I+D de lidar se cerrará a finales de 2024, afectando a aproximadamente 100 empleados. Se espera que los gastos operativos de esta unidad totalicen aproximadamente $60 millones en 2024. Aunque no impactará materialmente en los resultados de 2024, esta acción reducirá el gasto futuro en el desarrollo de lidar. Mobileye sigue priorizando el desarrollo de radar de imagen, que está cumpliendo con las especificaciones de rendimiento y se espera que entre en producción el próximo año.
Mobileye (MBLY)는 자율주행 및 고도로 자동화된 시스템을 위한 차세대 FMCW 라이다의 내부 개발을 종료하기로 결정했습니다. 이 결정은 EyeQ6 기반의 컴퓨터 비전 인식의 발전, 향상된 이미징 레이더 성능, 및 제3자 시차 라이다 장치의 비용 절감에 기반하고 있습니다. 회사는 이러한 변화가 고객 제품 프로그램이나 일반 제품 개발에 영향을 미치지 않는다고 강조했습니다.
라이다 연구 개발 부서는 2024년 말까지 종료될 예정이며, 약 100명의 직원에게 영향을 미칩니다. 이 부문의 운영 비용은 2024년에 약 6천만 달러로 예상됩니다. 2024년 결과에 본질적으로 영향을 미치지 않지만, 이 조치는 향후 라이다 개발 지출을 줄이는 결과를 가져올 것입니다. Mobileye는 성능 사양을 충족하고 있는 이미징 레이더 개발을 계속 우선시하고 있으며, 내년에 생산에 돌입할 것으로 예상됩니다.
Mobileye (MBLY) a décidé de mettre fin au développement interne du lidar FMCW de nouvelle génération pour les systèmes de conduite autonome et hautement automatisée. Cette décision est fondée sur des avancées dans la perception de vision par ordinateur basée sur EyeQ6, une amélioration des performances des radars d'imagerie et des réductions de coûts pour les unités lidar à temps de vol de tiers. La société souligne que ce changement n'affecte aucun programme produit pour les clients ni le développement général des produits.
Unité de R&D sur le lidar sera fermé d'ici la fin de 2024, affectant environ 100 employés. Les dépenses d'exploitation pour cette unité devraient s'élever à environ 60 millions de dollars en 2024. Bien que cela n'ait pas d'impact matériel sur les résultats de 2024, cette action réduira les dépenses futures pour le développement du lidar. Mobileye continue de donner la priorité au développement de radars d'imagerie, qui respecte les spécifications de performance et devrait entrer en production l'année prochaine.
Mobileye (MBLY) hat entschieden, die interne Entwicklung des FMCW-Lidar der nächsten Generation für autonome und hochautomatisierte Fahrzeugsysteme einzustellen. Diese Entscheidung basiert auf Fortschritten in der computerbasierten Wahrnehmung mit EyeQ6, einer verbesserten Bildradarleistung sowie Kostensenkungen bei Lidar-Geräten von Drittanbietern mit Zeitlaufmessung. Das Unternehmen betont, dass diese Änderung keine Auswirkungen auf die Kundenproduktprogramme oder die allgemeine Produktentwicklung hat.
Die Lidar-F&E-Einheit wird bis Ende 2024 eingestellt, was etwa 100 Mitarbeiter betrifft. Die Betriebskosten dieser Einheit werden voraussichtlich etwa 60 Millionen Dollar im Jahr 2024 betragen. Auch wenn dies die Ergebnisse von 2024 nicht wesentlich beeinflusst, wird diese Maßnahme die zukünftigen Ausgaben für die Lidar-Entwicklung reduzieren. Mobileye legt weiterhin großen Wert auf die Entwicklung von Bildradaren, die die Leistungsspezifikationen erfüllen und voraussichtlich im nächsten Jahr in Produktion gehen werden.
- Potential cost savings from ending internal lidar development
- Progress in EyeQ6-based computer vision perception
- Improved performance of internally developed imaging radar
- Cost reductions in third-party time-of-flight lidar units
- Imaging radar expected to enter production next year, on schedule
- Winding down of lidar R&D unit, affecting about 100 employees
- Expected $60 million in operating expenses for lidar R&D unit in 2024
Insights
Mobileye's decision to end internal FMCW lidar development marks a significant shift in their autonomous driving strategy. This move reflects the rapid evolution of alternative technologies, particularly in computer vision and imaging radar. The company's focus on EyeQ6-based perception and in-house imaging radar suggests a strategic pivot towards more cost-effective and scalable solutions.
The implications are twofold: 1) Mobileye is confident in achieving "eyes-off" autonomous capabilities without proprietary lidar, potentially accelerating time-to-market and reducing costs. 2) This could reshape the competitive landscape, putting pressure on dedicated lidar companies while boosting Mobileye's position against rivals like Nvidia and Tesla.
Investors should note the
Mobileye's decision to discontinue internal lidar development presents a mixed financial picture. On the positive side, it will result in cost savings beyond 2024, enhancing long-term profitability. The
However, the short-term impact is neutral, as the company stated this won't materially affect 2024 results. The wind-down costs and potential restructuring charges related to the affected 100 employees could offset immediate savings.
Investors should focus on how Mobileye reallocates these resources and whether the strategic shift maintains or enhances their competitive edge in the autonomous driving market. The key will be monitoring future product performance and market reception to gauge the wisdom of this decision.
Mobileye's abandonment of internal lidar development signals a broader industry trend towards more cost-effective autonomous driving solutions. This aligns with the growing skepticism about the necessity of lidar for mass-market autonomous vehicles, echoing Tesla's camera-centric approach.
The focus on imaging radar is particularly noteworthy. If successful, it could offer a sweet spot between cost and performance, potentially accelerating the adoption of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous features across a wider range of vehicles.
However, this strategy isn't without risks. Lidar has been considered important for redundancy and high-resolution environment mapping. Mobileye's success will hinge on whether their computer vision and radar technologies can match or exceed lidar's capabilities in challenging conditions. The industry will be watching closely to see if this move proves prescient or premature.
Technology progress makes next-gen FMCW lidar technology less essential to future products
As part of our regular review of the long-term technology roadmap, we now believe that the availability of next-generation FMCW lidar is less essential to our roadmap for eyes-off systems. This decision was based on a variety of factors, including substantial progress on our EyeQ6-based computer vision perception, increased clarity on the performance of our internally developed imaging radar, and continued better-than-expected cost reductions in third-party time-of-flight lidar units.
This action does not impact any of our customer product programs or product development in general. It also has no bearing on Mobileye’s commitment to development of our in-house imaging radar, which is meeting performance specifications based on B-samples and is expected to enter production next year, on schedule. In terms of Mobileye’s internal sensor development, imaging radar is a strategic priority. This is a core building-block technology that we expect to drive competitive advantage for Mobileye-based eyes-off systems in cost/performance optimization and scalability.
The lidar R&D unit will be wound down by the end of 2024, affecting about 100 employees. Operating expenses for the lidar R&D unit are expected to total approximately
Mobileye (Nasdaq: MBLY) leads the evolution of mobility with our autonomous driving and driver-assistance technologies, based on world-renowned expertise in artificial intelligence, computer vision, mapping, and integrated hardware and software. Since our founding in 1999, Mobileye has enabled the wide adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems while pioneering groundbreaking technologies such as REM™ crowdsourced mapping, True Redundancy™ sensing, Responsibility-Sensitive Safety™ (RSS™) driving policy and Driving Experience Platform (DXP). These technologies support a product portfolio structured for scale and designed to unlock the full potential of mobility, offering a range of solutions from premium ADAS to autonomous vehicles. By the end of 2023, about 180 million vehicles worldwide have been equipped with Mobileye technology. In 2022, Mobileye listed as an independent company separate from Intel (Nasdaq: INTC), which retains majority ownership. For more information, visit https://www.mobileye.com.
“Mobileye,” the Mobileye logo and Mobileye product names are registered trademarks of Mobileye Global. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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Media Contact: PR@mobileye.com
Source: Mobileye
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