Autoliv Acquires Lidar Specialist

Autoliv Inc. is buying lidar and high-tech camera developer Fotonic i Norden AB.

The acquisition includes certain intellectual property rights, development and prototyping assets and 35 Fotonic engineers. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to be completed by year-end, weren’t disclosed.

Located in Stockholm and Skelleftea, Sweden, Fotonic supplies lidar and related time-of-flight cameras that measure the light signal between a camera and objects in its field of view. The technologies are considered to be key enablers for autonomous vehicles.

Earlier this year, Autoliv launched a joint venture with Volvo Car Corp. to develop autonomous driving and advanced driver assist systems. Autoliv says Fotonic’s technology also will complement its collaboration with Velodyne Lidar Inc.