New Mercedes-Benz C-Class equipped with LG ADAS camera

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is equipped with LG Electronics Inc.’s advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) camera module, helping the South Korean electronics giant expand its automotive business.

LG said on Oct. 6 that the module is available in the new 2021 C-Class being rolled out globally. It is LG’s first supply of the component to an automaker.

The company was able to win the supply contract as it cooperated with Daimler AG from an initial stage of the ADAS camera development, LG said.

An ADAS front camera, usually tucked between the windshield and the rear-view mirror, is a core part that increases safety by collecting and processing traffic information surrounding the vehicle.

CORE PART FOR SAFETY

LG applied an algorithm developed by the company’s vehicle component solutions (VS) unit to the camera module. The ADAS supports various safety functions including automatic emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning (LDW), lane keeping assist (LKA), traffic sign recognition (TSR), intelligent head-light control (IHC) and adaptive cruise control (ACC).

The US and Germany require all vehicles launched from 2022 to be equipped with AEB and LDW.

LG said the ADAS camera reflects its cutting-edge technologies and know-how on mobile communications, image recognition and connectivity, indicating the company is utilizing its competitiveness in smartphones and home appliances for the automotive electronics business.

In May, the ADAS camera module received ISO 26262 Functional Safety Product and Functional Safety Process certifications from TÜV Rheinland, a global testing and certification organization. It was the first time for the organization to issue such certifications for a core component of autonomous vehicles.

LG plans to diversify its automotive electronics business portfolio with the ADAS camera module production.

The company has been pushing its expansion in this area. In 2018, it acquired Austria’s ZKW Group, a leading player in the automotive lighting market. In July, LG launched a joint venture with Magna International, the world’s third-largest auto supplier, to create LG Magna e-Powertrain Co.

Write to Su-Bin Lee at lsb@hankyung.com
Jongwoo Cheon edoted this article.