[250819] #Tensor #GM #Aeva

Vol. 244 | 2025.08.19

Category	Company	Article
Self-driving	Tensor	Robocar startup Tensor unveils luxury self-driving car for 2026
Self-driving	GM	GM revives autonomous vehicle program with focus on personal-use cars
Autonomous trucking	Waabi	Uber Freight CEO joins self-driving truck company Waabi, says era of autonomous big rigs on U.S. roads is here
LiDAR	Aeva, LG Innotek	Will Aeva’s $50M LG Innotek alliance fast-track multi-sector growth?
LiDAR	Orbbec	Orbbec debuts industry-first multi-pattern 3D LiDAR at World Robot Conference 2025

Robocar startup Tensor unveils
luxury self-driving car for 2026

📌 Tensor is shifting from robotaxi roots to deliver a high-end personal autonomous EV with heavy sensor integration and privacy-focused design.

• Tensor aims to launch the first consumer-available “eyes-off” autonomous EV with a foldable steering wheel replaced by a display.

• Tensor plans to launch the ‘Eyes-off’ personal autonomous electric vehicle, which replaces the steering wheel with a display, in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East in 2026.

• The vehicle integrates 37 cameras, 5 custom LiDARs, 11 radars, and multiple other sensors, most of which have built-in cleaning systems.

• It is designed for personal use rather than for robotaxi service, targeting highways and arterials in non-snowy regions at launch.

• The vehicle operates without Cloud dependency, emphasizing privacy and data security.

• The company evolved from AutoX, which previously ran a large robotaxi fleet in China but faced U.S. safety controversies.

• It utilizes a modular ML-based software stack with a proprietary transformer model for autonomy.

• Pricing will exceed that of current luxury EVs without self-driving, but details remain undisclosed.

 

GM revives autonomous vehicle program
with focus on personal-use cars

📌 GM is pivoting from robotaxis to personal autonomous vehicles, reinforcing its autonomy strategy with LiDAR testing and industry-leading hires.

• GM is reviving its autonomous driving program by rehiring former Cruise employees and hiring new talent, led by ex-Tesla Autopilot chief Sterling Anderson.

• The focus is shifting from robotaxi services to personal-use autonomous vehicles with hands-free, eyes-free capability.

• GM is testing LiDAR-equipped, human-driven vehicles to collect data and enhance simulation models for autonomy development.

• GM is continuing the development of Super Cruise as part of its autonomy roadmap.

• Previous mid-decade launch targets for personal AVs have lapsed, but development remains a strategic priority.

• The company remains committed to eventual fully driverless vehicles, despite shutting down Cruise after safety and regulatory issues.

• CEO Mary Barra emphasizes that autonomous technology is critical to GM’s future product lineup.

 

Uber Freight CEO joins
self-driving truck company Waabi,
says era of autonomous big rigs
on U.S. roads is here

📌 Waabi is rapidly advancing autonomous trucking with plans for fully driverless operations across the U.S., leveraging partnerships, technology, and regulatory momentum.

• Lior Ron, founder and former CEO of Uber Freight, joins Waabi as COO to scale autonomous trucking operations.

• Ron believes autonomous big rigs are ready for commercial deployment, transforming freight economics with driverless semi cabs.

• Waabi plans fully driverless trucks in the U.S. Southwest by year-end, targeting Sun Belt routes with high freight volumes and minimal weather constraints.

• The company aims to expand autonomous freight across North America within five years, leveraging partnerships with Uber Freight and OEMs like Volvo.

• Autonomous trucks are expected to double operational hours, reduce costs, improve safety, and increase fuel efficiency, accelerating adoption in logistics and retail sectors.

• Regulatory progress remains state-driven, but federal engagement is ongoing to enable faster deployment nationwide.

• Waabi positions itself as a “physical AI” company with long-term goals beyond trucking, including robotaxis, warehouse, and humanoid robots.

Will Aeva’s $50M LG Innotek alliance
fast-track multi-sector growth?

📌Aeva’s strategic partnership with LG Innotek enables scalable, cost-effective LiDAR deployment across automotive and industrial applications.

• Aeva partnered with LG Innotek with a $50M collaboration to combine Aeva’s FMCW LiDAR technology with LG’s large-scale manufacturing capabilities.

• LG Innotek invested $32M for a ~6% stake and will support production expansion, accelerating Aeva’s technology scale-up.

• The initial focus is on LiDAR systems for passenger vehicles, with long-term plans for robotics, industrial automation, and consumer electronics.

• Joint development aims to create a single-chip LiDAR system, improving affordability and integration for various devices.

• Leveraging LG Innotek’s global manufacturing network enables rapid scaling while keeping unit costs competitive.

• The partnership accelerates commercialization, transforming advanced sensing from niche applications into mainstream mobility and automation standards.

• Overall, Aeva’s collaboration positions it to compete in high-volume LiDAR markets while expanding into multiple sectors.

Orbbec debuts industry-first multi-pattern
3D LiDAR at World Robot Conference 2025

📌 Pulsar ME450 offers a flexible, high-precision LiDAR solution for diverse robotics applications, advancing intelligent perception and autonomous capabilities.

• Orbbec introduced the Pulsar ME450, the first dToF 3D LiDAR combining MEMS mirror and motorized scanning for flexible patterns.

• The sensor supports dynamic multi-pattern scanning, switching seamlessly between non-repetitive, repetitive, and dense scanning modes.

• Adjustable vertical field of view and rotation speed allow adaptation to various robotic applications like forklifts, logistics robots, and surveying equipment.

• Pulsar ME450 delivers millimeter-level precision and stable performance across different materials and challenging environments.

• The technology simplifies system integration, reduces total cost, and supports both navigation and detailed 3D reconstruction.

• Orbbec leverages a comprehensive sensor portfolio including stereo vision, structured light, iToF, dToF, and LiDAR for advanced robotic perception.

• Large-scale deployment in global robotics markets supports end-to-end “hand-eye-brain” integration and multi-sensor fusion for intelligent autonomous systems.

* Contents above are the opinion of ChatGPT, not an individual nor company

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Driverless mining trucks begin operating in China

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