Which company invests the least money in autonomous driving technics?

[Centurion]

Not only that ... Every partner contributes best expertise, best know-how, best (design) engineers ... and even designers. Everything for better, user-friendly product.

AD is not only about software (incl AI), and hardware components (LIDAR, stereo cameras, ultrasound sensors, navigation systems etc) but also and foremost about packaging - how to package all the hardware into a functional & aesthetic package. Small, not intruding etc.

Current AD systems an the roofs & the body sides & trunks etc are just hideous & unacceptable from aesthetic & functional (eg. aerodynamics) reasons. So the goal of the consortium is how to make the best AD car design without looking hideous & being functionally handicapped. Car designers, design engineers, hardware engineers, toolmakers, assembly / manufacturing specialists working together hand in hand. That wouldn't be possible in the case of every AD developer working on its own. The bigger consortium , the better. And the bigger will it grow, the more attractive to others will become.

So, the goal of the Consortium is to offer affordable & great product as quick as possible. The perfect product triangle.

Affordability will be key to mass adoption. Hatchback account for big percentage of car registrations and few buyer would even consider adding a €3,300-5,000 autonomous driving package.

Regulations will manufacturers to consolidate their efforts as insurance companies and law enforcement will create a standard for autonomous driving that need to be meet. Some big manufacturers will focus on in-house technology while smaller players without billion to put towards R&D will join a consortium.

 

[EnI]

Apparently HyundaiKIA is about to join BMW+Intel led autonomous driving development consortium (BMW + Intel + Mobileye + FiatChrysler + Delphi + Continental/VDO + Magna) ... Official press release coming soon.

 

[EnI]

Still no official confirmation on when HyundaiKIA is to joint the consortium ...

In the meantime BMW & Magna have started collaborating with Israeli start-up company Innoviz which provides innovative state-of-art "solid state" LIDAR sensors (also much smaller than current ones) that are not spinning. The plan is to incorporate InnovizOne sensors (with help of Magna) in BMW Group vehicles.

Also ... Jim Keller, head of Tesla's Autopilot development team, has apparently departed for Intel (also member of the BMW-led consortium), for a job focused on AD/AI microprocessor engineering.