Glossary 2

Table of contents 3

Scope of the report 4

Methodologies and definitions 6

About the authors 7

Companies cited in this report 8

What we got right, what we got wrong 9

Executive summary 10

Context 39

• History of LiDAR
• 2020-2021 LiDAR noteworthy news

Market forecasts 51

• Automotive market
• Robotic vehicle market
• Industrial market

Market trends 97

• Automotive applications
• Industrial applications
• Topography
• Energy

• Logistics
• Manufacturing
• Smart infrastructure
• Defense, space and, scientific applications

Market shares and supply chain 142

• Players and market shares
• M&A and investments
• Partnerships and supply chain
• Chinese landscape

Technology trends 183

• Image formation
• Components
• Products
• Integration in ADAS vehicles
• Frequency Modulated Continuous Waves (FMCW)
• Optical Phased Array (OPA)
• Software and computing
• Technology roadmaps

Reverse costing, structure, process and cost analyses 265

Outlook 276

Yole group of companies presentation 282

AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS ARE DRIVING LIDAR GROWTH

The market for LiDAR in automotive and industrial applications is expected to reach $5.7B in 2026 from $1.8B in 2020, representing a 21% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). In 2020, the LiDAR in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) represented 1.5% of the automotive and industrial LiDAR market. The ADAS proportion is expected to reach 41% in 2026 with an impressive 111% CAGR in this period, reaching a market size of $2.3B. The growth in robotic cars, including robotaxis and autonomous shuttles, is expected to be less impressive but still important.
This segment is expected to reach $575M in 2026 with a 33% CAGR.

In the industrial market, smart infrastructure and logistics are expected to see higher growth. The smart infrastructure LiDAR market will reach $395M in 2026 with a 35% CAGR. The logistics LiDAR market will reach $466M in 2026 with a 23% CAGR. In smart infrastructure, smart city applications are expected to be most important.
Security, highway monitoring and autonomous checkout are other important applications. In logistics, autonomous trucks and delivery robots are expected to have the most significant growth.

This comprehensive report covers market volume and value for applications in the automotive and industrial markets, including several splits by technology.

LEGACY TECHNOLOGIES REMAIN STRONG

Since the invention of 3D real-time LiDAR by David Hall from Velodyne in 2005, more than 80 LiDAR companies have been established. Many of them have bet on new technologies. This has resulted in high technological diversity in the LiDAR landscape. Despite this great diversity, the oldest technologies are still representing most design wins for the automotive industry.
Considering the LiDAR wavelength, 1550 nm is less dangerous to the human eye than 905 nm, and promises integration through the silicon platform. However, 905 nm represents 65% of design wins for the automotive industry. For the imaging method, traditional mechanical scanning represents 69% of design wins.
MEMS micromirror and Flash LiDAR are also making their way into automotive, but their proportion is smaller. Concerning the ranging method, direct Time-of-Flight (dToF) represent 100% of design wins. Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW), which allows better integration, sensitivity, and instant radial velocity, is not expected before 2025.

The report presents a complete analysis of LiDAR technologies used for ranging and imaging, automotive integration, software challenges, and components used for light emission and photodetection.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-DRIVING TECHNOLOGIES WILL RESHAPE THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

As of Q3-2021, there are more than 60 LiDAR players targeting the automotive industry.
Different technologies are used and among the players, some are still in R&D while others are already in mass production. Among them, already 14 LiDAR players have design wins with car maker OEMs. As the market is young, it is quite normal to see such a diversity of players but with a higher level of maturity, the number of players involved in the automotive industry is expected to decrease. Some players may disappear because they will be unable to raise enough money to survive. Some will succeed, and some others will be acquired. In a recent interview, Ouster’s CEO, Angus Pacala, said that only three to five LiDAR companies would remain in the next five years.

Acquisitions could occur between players, like Continental did with ASC in the past, or Aurora acquiring Blackmore and, more recently, OURS Technology Inc. More acquisitions will follow between LiDAR players.

The development of self-driving naturally attracts OEMs and Tier-1 part suppliers. Other players coming from the semiconductor or the consumer industries will enter the race as well. In this race to full autonomy, large OEMs with many resources like Volkswagen will develop the necessary software by themselves, partner or acquire robotic vehicle companies. Generalist OEMs with few resources are expected to rely on Tier-1s to develop basic automated driving features. These Tier-1s will have to master camera, radar, LiDAR sensors and the computing. Companies from the semiconductor side like Qualcomm, Nvidia, or Intel-Mobileye are positioning themselves, sometimes through acquisitions, at the center of automated driving systems. Qualcomm could acquire Veoneer soon to reinforce its position in the automotive industry. Companies coming from the consumer industry like Apple, Huawei, or Xiaomi are also entering the market. Depending on their strategy, they could develop only the selfdriving part or their own car, like Huawei is doing.

The COVID-19 crisis has emphasized the increasing importance of semiconductors in cars. Companies coming from the semiconductor and software sides have a strong financial power and could acquire some Tier-1 or Tier-2 companies. This could reshape the automotive landscape in coming years.

This report presents the growing importance of software and computing in the ADAS market, the needs of data fusion, and the emergence of new players in the automotive industry.

ABAX, Aeva, AEye , AGC, Airbus, ams AG, AOET,  Argo AI, ASC, ASE Technology, Audi, Aurora Innovation, Ball Aerospace, Baraja, BEA , BEAMAGINE, Beijing Surestar Technology, Benewake, Blickfeld, BMW, Bosch, Bridger Photonics, Broadcom, Carnavicom, Cepton Technologies , Continental, CoreDAR, Cosworth, Delphi, Denso, Draper, Eblana photonics, Eckhardt Optics, EOLOS, Eonite Perception, Epistar, Epsiline, Excelitas Technologies, Faro, Fastree3D, Ficontec, Finisar, First Sensor AG, Fujitsu, GeoSLAM, Guangshao Technology, Hamamatsu Photonics, Hesai Photonics Technologies, Hexagon AB, Hitronics Technologies, Hokuyo Automatic, Huawei, Hyundai, Hybo, Hybrid LiDAR Systems, Hypersen Technologies, Hyundai Mobis, Ibeo Automotive Systems, II-VI, Imuzak, Infineon Technologies AG, INFOWORKS, Innoluce BV, Innoviz Technologies, Innovusion, Insight LiDAR, Iridian Spectral Technologies, Irvine Sensors Corp., Jabil, Jaguar, Kaarta, Koito, Konica Minolta, Kyocera, Laser Components, LeddarTech, Leica Geosystems, LeiShen Intelligent System, Leonardo, Leosphere, Lexus, LG, Livox, Lumentum, Lumibird, Luminar Technologies, Lumotive, Magna, Marelli, Meller Optics, Mercedes-Benz, METEK Meteorologische Messtechnik GmbH, Micralyne, Micro Photon Devices, Microvision, Mirada Technologies, Mirrorcle, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, NeoPhotonics, Neptec Design Group Ltd. , Neptec Technologies, Neuvition, Newsight Imaging , Nextcore, Ocular Robotics, OEwaves, OLEI LiDAR, Ommatidia, Omron, ON Semiconductor, Ophir, Oplatek, Oqmented, Osram, OURS Technology, Ouster, Panasonic, Phantom Intelligence, Phoenix LiDAR Systems, Pioneer Smart Sensing Innovations Corporation, PSSI, pmdtechnologies AG, Preciseley Microtechnology Corp., Princeton Optronics, Quanergy Systems, Quantel Laser, Quantum Semiconductor International (QSI), Redtail LiDAR, Renault, Renesas, Riegl, RoboSense, Rockley Photonics, Scantinel Photonics, Sense Photonics, Sick AG, SiLC Technologies, STMicroelectronics, Teledyne Optech, TeraXion, TetraVue, Topcon, Trimble, Valeo, Velodyne LiDAR, Veoneer, Volkswagen, Volvo, Waymo, Webasto, XenomatiX, Z+F Laser, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and more.