Aeva strikes lidar chip-making deal with LG subsidiary
Seoul, South Korea & Mountain View, CA – In a significant move set to accelerate the adoption of advanced sensing technology, LG Innotek, a key components and materials subsidiary of South Korea’s LG Group, has forged a strategic manufacturing partnership with Aeva Technologies. Aeva, a pioneer in 4D LiDAR sensing systems, will leverage LG Innotek’s manufacturing prowess to scale its innovative technology, initially targeting the booming automotive sector.
Under the terms of the agreement, LG Innotek will be responsible for manufacturing and supplying Aeva’s cutting-edge Atlas Ultra 4D LiDAR sensor specifically for automotive applications. This collaboration is designed to eventually broaden the application of Aeva’s technology into diverse fields, including consumer electronics, robotics, and industrial automation. As a testament to its commitment, LG Innotek is investing up to $50 million in Aeva, securing an approximate 6% equity stake in the U.S.-based LiDAR firm.
Soroush Salehian, co-founder and CEO of Aeva, highlighted the immediate focus: “The first part of the partnership is focused on the automotive sector. LG Innotek will act as our manufacturing partner for some of the top 10 global passenger vehicle OEMs.”
Founded in 2017, Aeva has dedicated nearly half a billion dollars to the development of its distinctive “4D LiDAR on a chip” technology. Unlike traditional LiDAR systems that rely solely on time-of-flight measurements for distance, Aeva’s Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW)-based perception technology uniquely measures both distance and velocity for every pixel in real-time. Salehian likens this advancement to upgrading from a “black-and-white to color camera,” emphasizing the new dimension of velocity information.
A hallmark of Aeva’s innovation is the integration of the entire LiDAR system, including its complex optics, into a compact silicon photonics module. This miniaturized, chip-scale design is crucial for enabling more efficient production and seamless integration, which is vital for widespread adoption across markets such as automotive, robotics, and consumer electronics.
The capital infusion from this landmark deal will primarily be directed towards accelerating product development and expanding Aeva’s expert team. Salehian reiterated the company’s long-term vision, stating, “Over the past eight years, we’ve made [the hardware] super small, and we’re sticking to that trajectory. We’re going to make it down to a monolithic, single-chip.”
Beyond automotive, Aeva is actively pursuing growth in other sectors, including manufacturing, where it has established partnerships with Nikon in Japan and CKG in Germany. The company is also making strides in smart infrastructure and transportation, providing advanced security and monitoring solutions at major U.S. airports, including San Francisco International (SFO) and New York’s JFK Terminal One.
