Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng Inc is set to unveil the F57, a new all-electric vehicle slated for release later this year, which will eschew LiDAR technology in favor of relying solely on cameras, mirroring Tesla Inc’s approach adopted several years ago, according to reports from CnEV Post.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has long been critical of LiDAR technology, famously dismissing it as a “fool’s errand” and gradually phasing out ultrasonic sensors from Tesla vehicles starting in 2022.
Xpeng, which initially integrated LiDAR technology with its P5 model in 2021, appears to be shifting its strategy, banking on alternative technologies for more precise autonomous driving capabilities.
CEO He Xiaopeng recently visited the United States, where he experienced Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) suite firsthand, which operates solely on cameras. He praised the system’s performance, particularly highlighting its effectiveness on highways:
“In the past few days, I had the opportunity to test FSD version 12.3.6 in California and rode in a Waymo vehicle as well. While Waymo showed superior performance in downtown San Francisco, FSD excelled in Silicon Valley and on highways, demonstrating remarkable proficiency across various road conditions. I am truly impressed by the significant advancements FSD has achieved in recent months. We intend to draw from its exceptional features and user experience. I anticipate 2025 will mark a pivotal moment for fully autonomous driving.”
