GM has announced plans to acquire LIDAR technology company Strobe Inc, as the company looks to speed up the development of autonomous vehicles.
The purchase is also set to reduce the cost of automotive sensors.
“This acquisition is a game changer for GM and Cruise. We’ve made this acquisition because we aim to speed our path to market,” GM Cruise automation unit CEO Kyle Vogt said.
Vogt stated that Strobe’s new microchip LIDAR system would significantly enhance the capabilities of the self-driving cars GM was developing.
He also said that Strobe’s system would reduce the cost of each LIDAR on its self-driving cars by 99%.
11 full-time Strobe employees will join Cruise as part of the deal.
GM has publicly stated that it aims to have fully self-driving cars on sale by 2021.