Unlocking the Future of Self-Driving Cars with Mobileye
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Intel's Plans to Take its Autonomous Driving Unit Mobileye Public
- Market Size of Autonomous Cars
- Issues with Current AV Systems
- Mobilize's Differentiated Approach
- The Products and Innovations of Mobilize
- Mobilize's Business Model
- Competitors of Mobilize
- Unique Strengths of Mobileye
- Leadership and Financials of Mobilize
Article:
Intel's Plans to Take its Autonomous Driving Unit Mobileye Public
Introduction
Intel has recently announced its plans to make its autonomous driving unit, Mobileye, go public via an initial public offering (IPO) in mid-2022. This move comes after Intel acquired the Israeli subsidiary, Mobileye, in 2017 for a whopping $15.3 billion. With this IPO, Intel aims to value Mobileye at $50 billion, making it one of the hottest topics in the IPO world.
Market Size of Autonomous Cars
The global market for autonomous cars is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. The market, which was valued at $23.33 billion in 2020, is projected to reach $64.8 billion by 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 22.7% during the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. This immense market potential has fueled Intel's decision to take Mobileye public.
Issues with Current AV Systems
One of the primary issues faced by current autonomous vehicle (AV) companies is the integration of data from multiple sensors. Most AVs rely on a single sensing system that combines information from cameras, radars, and lidar. This approach produces a single model of the environment, which can be less robust and prone to failures. Additionally, the time-of-flight (TOF) lidar system has limitations compared to frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) lidar, affecting the accuracy of detected objects.
Mobilize's Differentiated Approach
Mobilize, a subsidiary of Intel specializing in self-driving technology, adopts a differentiated approach to address these issues. With its true redundancy system, Mobilize utilizes two independent models of the driving environment – one based on a camera-centric configuration and another from radar and FMCW lidar. This approach enhances robustness and streamlines the sensing system, offering a key fail-safe mechanism.
The Products and Innovations of Mobilize
Mobilize focuses on three main technological innovations: automated driving, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and mapping. The company's self-driving system achieves true redundancy by leveraging two parallel AV sub-systems. The backbone of this system is a camera-centric configuration, while radar and FMCW lidar provide additional sensing capabilities. Mobilize's ADAS plays a crucial role in validating the building blocks of autonomous vehicles through rigorous safety testing. Furthermore, high-definition mapping is crucial for precise vehicle localization, and Mobilize leverages crowdsourcing to build and update this map efficiently.
Mobilize's Business Model
Currently, Mobileye follows a business model where it sells chips, cameras, and software packages to car manufacturers, particularly original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as General Motors, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz. Mobileye powers ADAS systems in 300 car models with 27 OEM partners. Additionally, Mobilize is developing technology for robo-taxis, self-driving commercial delivery vehicles, and eventually, consumer passenger AVs. This diversification ensures a wide range of market opportunities for the company.
Competitors of Mobilize
Mobilize faces tough competition in the autonomous driving space. Waymo LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., operates a self-driving taxi service called Waymo 1 in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area. Nvidia's Drive platform offers advanced autonomous car and driver assistance functionality, powered by deep learning. Argo AI, backed by major investors Ford Motor and Volkswagen, develops software and hardware solutions for self-driving vehicles.
Unique Strengths of Mobileye
Mobileye possesses several unique strengths that set it apart from its competitors. Firstly, the company plans to develop its long-range FMCW lidar using Intel's silicon photonics expertise. This will provide Mobileye with a distinct advantage in lidar technology. Secondly, Mobileye bundles cameras and software packages, eliminating the need for customization during integration. This streamlined approach maximizes quality while minimizing costs, leading to a significant profit margin.
Leadership and Financials of Mobilize
Mon Shashua, a senior vice president at Intel Corporation and CEO of Mobileye, provides strong leadership to the company. Shashua's extensive background in mathematics, computer science, and artificial intelligence has been instrumental in Mobileye's success. In terms of financials, Mobileye reported a revenue of $967 million in 2020, driven by increased global vehicle production. The company's operating income for the same year was $241 million, with a steady growth trend.
In conclusion, Intel's decision to take Mobileye public showcases the growing importance of the autonomous driving industry. With a strong market potential and a differentiated approach to AV technology, Mobileye aims to solidify its position as a leader in the field. With innovative products, a robust business model, and unique strengths, Mobileye is well-equipped to navigate the highly competitive autonomous driving landscape.
Highlights:
- Intel plans to take its autonomous driving unit, Mobileye, public via an IPO in mid-2022.
- The global market for autonomous cars is projected to reach $64.8 billion by 2026.
- Mobilize addresses current AV issues with its true redundancy system and FMCW lidar technology.
- The company's products include automated driving, ADAS systems, and mapping solutions.
- Mobileye follows a business model of selling chips, cameras, and software packages to car manufacturers.
- Competitors of Mobileye include Waymo, Nvidia, and Argo AI.
- Mobileye's unique strengths lie in its FMCW lidar technology and streamlined integration approach.
- Mon Shashua, CEO of Mobileye, provides strong leadership for the company.
- Mobileye reported a revenue of $967 million in 2020, with steady growth in the industry.
FAQ:
Q: What is Mobileye's plan to go public?
A: Intel plans to make Mobileye go public via an initial public offering (IPO) in mid-2022.
Q: What is the market size of autonomous cars?
A: The global market for autonomous cars is projected to reach $64.8 billion by 2026.
Q: How does Mobilize address issues with current AV systems?
A: Mobilize adopts a true redundancy system using two independent models of the driving environment and leverages FMCW lidar technology for accurate object detection.
Q: What are the products and innovations of Mobilize?
A: Mobilize focuses on automated driving, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and mapping solutions.
Q: What is Mobileye's unique strength?
A: Mobileye plans to develop its long-range FMCW lidar using Intel's silicon photonics expertise. Additionally, the company offers a streamlined integration approach with bundled cameras and software packages.
Q: Who are the competitors of Mobilize?
A: Competitors of Mobileye include Waymo, Nvidia, and Argo AI.
Q: What is Mobileye's revenue and financial performance?
A: Mobileye reported a revenue of $967 million in 2020, with a steady growth trend. Its operating income for the same year was $241 million.
Q: Who is the CEO of Mobileye?
A: Mon Shashua is the CEO of Mobileye and provides strong leadership for the company.