Auto tech supplier Luminar is expanding its partnership with Mercedes-Benz on autonomous driving. The two comapanies are working on integrating Luminar’s Iris lidar into a broad range of Mercedes next-generation production vehicles. Luminar’s Iris entered its first series production in October 2022 and the company’s Mercedes-Benz programme has completed its initial phase and associated milestones.

After two years of collaboration between the two companies, Mercedes-Benz now plans to integrate Luminar’s new Iris lidar and associated software across a broad range of its next-generation production vehicle lines by mid-decade. The performance of the next-generation Iris is designed for Mercedes-Benz’s requirements for a new conditionally automated driving system that is planned to operate at higher speed for freeways, as well as for enhanced driver assistance systems for urban environments. It will also be simplifying the design integration with a sleeker profile.

The two companies are describing the multi-billion dollar deal as a milestone and poised to “substantially enhance the technical capabilities and safety of conditionally automated driving systems”.

“Mercedes’ standards for vehicle safety and performance are among the highest in the industry, and their decision to double down on Luminar reinforces that commitment,” said Austin Russell, Founder and CEO of Luminar. “We are now set to enable the broadest scale deployment of this technology in the industry. It’s been an incredible sprint so far, and we are fully committed to making this happen – together with Mercedes-Benz.”

“In a first step we have introduced a Level 3 system in our top line models. Next, we want to implement advanced automated driving features in a broader scale within our portfolio,” said Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes Benz Group AG and Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement. “I am convinced that Luminar is a great partner to help realise our vision and roadmap for automated and accident-free driving.”