Osram invests in LiDAR expert LeddarTech Inc.
Investment strengthens Osram’s position in the autonomous driving sector
Osram has acquired a strategic 25.1 percent share in LeddarTech Inc., a Canadian company that develops a proprietary LiDAR technology integrated into semiconductors and sensor modules for self-driving cars and driver assistance systems. LeddarTech specializes in solid-state LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) systems that use infrared light to monitor the area around them, and its advanced optical sensing technology is highly complementary with Osram’s semiconductor products. The two companies already work together and Osram has now made an investment in LeddarTech in the mid double-digit million euros.
“Osram is already the world’s leading provider of sensor lights for autonomous vehicles and is experiencing steadily rising demand in this field. We see the investment in LeddarTech as a logical step on the way to becoming the leading provider of solutions in this area,” said Stefan Kampmann, Chief Technology Officer at OSRAM Licht AG.
“We see a great natural fit between our two companies and are pleased to welcome Osram as a strategic investor,” said Charles Boulanger, LeddarTech’s CEO. “LeddarTech is on its way to becoming the reference in solid-state LiDARs for the automotive industry, and we believe our association with the market leader in automotive lighting represents an important milestone in that direction,” stated Boulanger. “This investment from Osram is part of a larger financing round currently under way by LeddarTech and expected to be finalized shortly. Further details will be provided after the closing of the round.”
Osram’s investment in LeddarTech is a response to the growing demand for LiDAR technology – an essential component in self-driving vehicles and in many other mobility-related applications. LiDAR is similar to radar technology in that it detects objects and measures distances and speeds, but it is based on infrared light. LeddarTech was established in 2007 and is based in Québec, Canada.
ABOUT OSRAM
OSRAM with headquarters in Munich, Germany is a globally leading lighting manufacturer with a company history of around 100 years. The product spectrum contains high-tech applications based on semiconductor technologies such as infrared and laser. Products are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from virtual reality, autonomous driving and mobile phones to networked, intelligent lighting solutions in buildings and cities. The company is global technology and market leader in the automotive lighting technology sector. OSRAM had approximately 24,600 employees around the world in continued business sectors (without Ledvance) with turnover of 3.8 billion euros to the end of the 2016 fiscal year (30 September). The company is listed on the Frankfurt am Main and Munich stock exchanges under WKN: LED 400 (stock exchange symbol: OSR). For further information, see www.osram.com.
ABOUT LEDDARTECH
LeddarTech is the developer and owner of Leddar, a patented solid-state LiDAR sensing technology that constitutes a novel approach in light detection and ranging. Developed over 10+ years of R&D, Leddar is a unique combination of advanced light wave digital signal processing and software algorithms that enable the production of solid-state LiDARs delivering superior performance and reliability at the highly competitive price. LeddarTech’s sensors are used in multiple mobility-related markets including automotive, intelligent transport systems, drones, and industrial vehicles. LeddarTech technology contributes to improving our safety and our quality of life through applications minimizing the risks of accidents, reducing traffic congestion, and improving transport efficiency. Additional information can be found at www.leddartech.com.