Gapwaves, a global provider of innovative waveguide technology, and Valeo, a French global provider of ADAS systems, have entered into an agreement to start large-scale serial production of waveguide radar antennas for ADAS applications. The contract has an expected sales value of mid-range double-digit MEUR over approximately 10 years, starting in 2025.
Valeo offers a complete portfolio of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) on the market and keeps developing new technologies to offer more safety and comfort to drivers and has been developing and mass-producing radar technologies since 2006. In the joint development, Gapwaves supports Valeo with its antenna technology, engineering and production capabilities. After successful development, Gapwaves will produce and supply the automotive radar antennas in serial volumes to Valeo, starting in 2025. NRE services and related revenue in 2025 to reach the Start Of Production (SOP) is also part of the agreement.
To offer new functions for greater comfort and safety, vehicles must be equipped with sensors to perceive and analyze their environment. As the market for radar sensors with high-performance waveguide antennas is expected to strongly increase in the coming years, Valeo, specifically Valeo Brain Division, and Gapwaves have collaborated since early 2023. The development of a new antenna using Gapwaves’ proprietary Multi-Layer Waveguide technology (MLW) enables cost-efficient radar with significantly increased performance. With this partnership, Valeo and Gapwaves will enable car manufacturers to significantly improve and extend their ADAS, in particular their radar-based functions such as blind-spot detection, front or rear cross-traffic alert systems.
Marc Vrecko, CEO of Valeo Brain Division & Group Executive Vice President, explains “The automotive industry is in the midst of the most important transformation of its history with the car becoming more autonomous and more connected. At Valeo, we offer the largest portfolio of sensors as well as computing units and software to offer more comfort and safety to drivers. We are proud to collaborate with Gapwaves on this new technology to offer radars with increased performance and reliability. This is a great illustration of Valeo’s technological leadership in ADAS and of its capability to offer innovative technologies at scale.”
Jonas Ehinger, CEO of Gapwaves comments: “I am very happy to announce the long-term partnership with Valeo, the world leader for ADAS sensors. Our partnership started in early 2023 and this agreement is the culmination of nearly two years of close collaboration and development. It marks the beginning of an even more crucial phase: SOP and high-volume deliveries. Securing yet another leading partner like Valeo underscores the value of Gapwaves' antenna technology in enhancing radar sensors for ADAS and advanced automated driving. It is also additional proof of Gapwaves’ position as a trusted partner to the Automotive sector, known for its very high standards and requirements.”
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