LeddarTech, a Canadian company offering LiDAR and perception software, announced plans to move away from its LiDAR hardware component business and focus on software development going forward. Accordingly, the company will continue to offer environmental sensing and perception solutions for advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving solutions.

LeddarTech’s primary product “LeddarVision” is a scalable raw-data sensor fusion and perception platform that can generate 3D environmental models with multi-sensor support for camera, radar, and LiDAR configurations. The company plans to license the software on a per-vehicle basis, with plans to roll it out in SUVs in 2023 and in passenger cars the following year.

The shift in focus comes amid the company’s belief that raw data fusion will become a key aspect in the automotive sector in the future and also due to the attached risks of working on both LiDAR hardware components and perception software with limited investment resources. Reportedly, the new software-centric business model is also resulting in dozens of layoffs at its corporate offices globally (out of around 220 employees). 

However, the company will still be involved in the LiDAR component business to some extent. It is now in talks with partners to license the LiDAR component technology and is also looking to spin off its division that makes LiDAR units for non-automotive applications.