Sources: Apple is in talks with suppliers for next-gen lidar sensors for self-driving cars, that will be considered cutting edge four to five years from now
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple’s reported vehicle work has repeatedly centered on lidar: a self-driving Lexus test vehicle carrying a 64-channel lidar was seen in 2017, followed by reports that Apple was developing its own sensor while evaluating outside suppliers.
The new supplier discussions extend that dual track from nearer-term testing to components intended for a much later performance bar. They also fit reports that Apple was considering a car with self-driving technology and internally developed lidar. reported vehicle plans
First-order effects
- Lidar suppliers now have an opportunity to qualify technology against Apple’s long-range requirements for a self-driving vehicle program.
- Apple gains a supplier-evaluation path alongside its reported in-house lidar work, rather than relying on a single sensor-development route.
Second-order effects
- Suppliers competing for Apple’s business will be pushed to demonstrate sensor roadmaps that remain competitive over a multi-year vehicle-development cycle.
- Apple’s parallel build-or-buy approach increases pressure on lidar vendors to offer differentiation beyond hardware that Apple may develop internally.
Third-order effects
- If major vehicle programs increasingly specify perception hardware years ahead of production, lidar competition will shift toward long-term sensor roadmaps and deep integration with vehicle software rather than standalone component sales.
- The pattern points to perception hardware becoming a strategic layer of self-driving development, with automakers and technology companies seeking more control over core sensors.
The trend: Autonomous-vehicle development is moving toward long-horizon control of perception infrastructure, combining in-house sensor work with selective supplier partnerships.