As the electric and autonomous car continues to develop, the question of insurance begins to arise. Will it one day be possible to reduce the price of the subscription thanks to LiDAR sensors deemed more reliable than other technologies in terms of driving aids? In any case, this is what the company Luminar Tech, supplier of Mercedes, which has just joined forces with the insurance company Swiss Re, hopes.
If some people thought that it would soon be possible to go to work while sleeping while the car drives us safely, unfortunately this is not yet possible. But many manufacturers are working on it, such as Tesla, which already offers its Autopilot system and its FSD (full self-driving), which we had the chance to try.
An unprecedented partnership
But the firm is obviously not the only one. We think for example of Ford, which would even offer the best autonomous driving system as well as Mercedes. The manufacturer has just signed a new partnership with the American company Luminar Tech in order to equip its cars with a more efficient LiDAR sensor. This will make it possible to offer even safer level 3 autonomous driving.
As a reminder, this technology is already offered on the EQS and S-Class and approved in Europe and in Nevada, up to 60 km/h. And who says safer driving says lower risk of accidents, while this system would also help to reduce “ghost” traffic jams on the motorways. So, if self-driving cars are less dangerous, it would make sense that this would be reflected in the cost of insurance.
This is precisely what Luminar Tech is working on, which should not be confused with photo editing software using artificial intelligence. The American company, which already collaborates with Volvo as well as the Chinese brand Rising Auto has just announced the signature of a partnership with the insurance company Swiss Re. This will be developed in several stages.
First, and as the firm explains in a press release, it will be a question of analyzing and ” quantify on-road performance and safety improvements of consumer and commercial vehicles equipped with Luminar LiDAR“. These tests should relate to vehicles already equipped, such as the new Volvo EX90, the Rising Auto R7 and F7 as well as the 100% electric Mercedes S-Class and EQS.
Towards a lower price?
But Luminar Tech wants to go even further as part of this new alliance. Indeed, according to the company, vehicles that have chosen its technology could benefit from reduced rates on their car insurance. An advantage that will therefore be reserved only for the latter, which means that manufacturers who have opted for another supplier will not be able to take advantage of it. Unless they join forces with other companies.
This new offer designed with Swiss Re should be available for customers of cars equipped with LiDAR next year in the United States. As a reminder, this type of sensor is distinguished from the others by its ability to analyze its environment with great precision and map it. However, it is still very expensive, so it is only installed on high-end models.
This partnership should mark a turning point for the autonomous car, while some manufacturers such as Mercedes believe that level 4 will be reached by the end of the decade. This should also reassure motorists a little more, while the legislation already emphasizes that the responsibility lies with the brands in the event of an accident. Suffice to say that they therefore have every interest in offering ultra-reliable technology to avoid problems like Tesla with its Autopilot. It is for this reason in particular that the firm does not offer its FSD (technically level 3 but legally level 2) in Europe.
But will LiDAR soon be outdated? In any case, it will have to face a sizeable competitor, developed by the French company Plastic Omnium, which unveiled at CES in Las Vegas a 4D radar sensor integrated directly into the bumper. Less expensive to repair, it is also more compact and more efficient. In addition, it is less sensitive to weather conditions and consumes less energy.
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