Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has been a vocal critic of using Lidar technology for self-driving vehicles. However, Li Auto CEO Li Xiang believes that Musk would have a different perspective on Lidar if he experienced driving on China’s highways at night.
Li Xiang emphasized that Lidar plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety of autonomous driving systems in China. He stated, “I believe that if Musk had ever driven on different highways in China deep in the night, he would have chosen to keep a Lidar in the front as well.” Li Auto, a Chinese automaker, utilizes Lidar technology to ensure optimal safety for their vehicles. Li pointed out that while cameras have a limited range of 100 meters, Lidar extends the detection range to 200 meters, making it essential for navigating the challenging road conditions in China, especially at night.
The CEO highlighted that China’s driving environment differs significantly from the U.S., with hazards such as large trucks with broken taillights posing a serious risk on the roads. Most Chinese automakers developing autonomous driving technology rely on Lidar for its superior detection capabilities.
In contrast, Elon Musk has been steadfast in his belief that Tesla can achieve full autonomy using Tesla Vision, a system that utilizes cameras and artificial intelligence without the need for Lidar technology. Tesla Vision has received positive feedback from Tesla drivers, showcasing the effectiveness of Musk’s approach.
Musk has likened Lidar to a “crutch” and has expressed skepticism about its necessity for autonomous driving. While SpaceX, another company led by Musk, uses Lidar for its Dragon capsule, Musk remains firm in his stance that Lidar is not essential for autonomous vehicles.
Overall, the debate between Musk and proponents of Lidar technology like Li Xiang reflects the ongoing discussion within the autonomous driving industry. While Musk’s vision for achieving autonomy without Lidar has shown promise, the use of Lidar in challenging driving conditions like those in China highlights its importance for ensuring safety and reliability in self-driving vehicles.