With Outsight and Hesai, Embotech Deploys New Automated Vehicle Marshalling (AVM) Capabilities in BMW’s European Plants

Zurich, Switzerland, 28 January, 2025 – Embotech AG, a provider of cutting edge autonomous driving solutions for logistics, announces a strategic collaboration with Outsight, a leader in LiDAR software solutions and Hesai, a leading LiDAR hardware manufacturer, to deliver cutting-edge LiDAR technology and perception software for Embotech’s AVM technology deployed in BMW facilities and known internally at BMW as Automated Driving In-Plant (AFW).

Outsight

Within this AVN solution, Outsight plays a key role with its advanced LiDAR software platform that tracks the vehicle and the surrounding obstacles within BMW’s production facilities, while Hesai supplies its industry-leading LiDAR sensors, renowned for their accuracy and reliability, which act as the “eyes” of the AVM system.

Initially implemented for the BMW 5 Series and 7 Series in Dingolfing, is now also in use for the MINI Countryman and other BMW models manufactured in Leipzig. Using this new setup developed by industry leaders in autonomous driving solutions and sensing technology, new vehicles drive fully autonomously along a route of more than one kilometre, from the two assembly halls, through the “short test course”, to the plant’s finishing area.  At the Dingolfing plant, while the vehicles drive themselves to the finishing area, the factory establishes a secure connection to the vehicles, controlling their movement through the quality assurance test drive. This approach eliminates the need to transport human workers back to the production line after each car has reached its final parking destination. The integrated solution is now actively supporting the marshalling of newly manufactured vehicles through various stages of the production and logistics process in three BMW facilities, marking  the initial phase in a global rollout to multiple plants across Europe and North America.

A long-standing collaboration scales a new peak

Outsight2Embotech, Outsight and Hesai have successfully collaborated for several years, jointly advancing LiDAR and perception solutions for autonomous driving. Global leaders in their respective fields, the companies are driving innovation in LiDAR as well as perception technology. This latest strategic collaboration builds upon this strong foundation, enabling the companies to provide best-in-class technology for AVM, which is safety rated, fulfilling the highest performance and availability requirements.

“The combination of Outsight’s sophisticated LiDAR software platform and Hesai’s reliable LiDAR sensors perfectly complements Embotech’s autonomous driving expertise“, says Dr. Alexander Domahidi, CTO and Founder of Embotech. “This collaboration ensures the highest standards of safety and efficiency in BMW’s automated vehicle operations”.

According to Raul Bravo, President and co-founder at Outsight, “Our collaboration with Embotech, Hesai, and BMW highlights the increasing maturity of LiDAR technology, particularly the software underpinning it. Its application to real-world factory conditions demonstrate its ability to enhance industrial safety and efficiency, while underlining the importance of a comprehensive framework to realise the potential of autonomous driving.”

“Hesai is proud to partner with Embotech and Outsight to deliver cutting-edge lidar technology for BMW’s Automated Vehicle Marshalling (AVM) system”, says Dr. David Li, CEO and Co-founder of Hesai Technology. “This state-of-the-art technology demonstrates the high level of precision and safety offered by our lidar and Outsight’s perception software for Embotech’s autonomous driving solutions. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and bringing this technology to more factories around the world”.

About Embotech

Embotech is an award-winning provider of cutting-edge autonomous driving solutions for logistics, with a focus on Automated Vehicle Marshalling (AVM) in passenger car factories and Automated Terminal Trucks (ATT) at port terminals and logistic centers. The company delivers safe and reliable autonomous transportation by leveraging the real-time optimization technology that it has been developing since 2013. For more information: www.embotech.com

About Outsight

Outsight’s software solutions track the motion of people and vehicles using 3D LiDAR data. Operators of transportation hubs like airports and train stations but also sport venues, road infrastructures and industrial sites can now access accurate and anonymous Spatial Intelligence insights, in order to improve operations and increase user safety and satisfaction. Our international team of scientists and engineers drive the development of our solutions from Paris, Dallas, San Francisco, Hong-Kong and Alicante. We believe that accelerating the adoption of LiDAR technology through robust and scalable software solutions will significantly contribute to making the world smarter, safer and more sustainable. To learn more: https://www.outsight.ai/

About Hesai

Hesai Technology (Nasdaq: HSAI) is the global leader in lidar technology for automotive and robotics applications. The company supplies ADAS lidar to 6 of the top 10 global OEMs by revenue and is ranked No. 1 in the ADAS lidar market globally, with a 26% market share. Hesai has established a strong presence in Europe, the US and Asia, with customers located in over 40 countries. The company will continue to invest in its resources and technical advancements, leveraging cutting-edge technology to shape the future of mobility. For more information: www.hesaitech.com