[AndrewBissell]

Currently, LIDAR is very expensive, certainly too expensive to build into every Tesla being manufactured. So Musk would not be able to sell a "full FSD capability" option on his cars if he acknowledged LIDAR is useful/necessary to autonomous driving.

The number one link if you search "Tesla" on HN is "All Tesla Cars Being Produced Now Have Full Self-Driving Hardware." It's been an extraordinarily effective marketing gimmick.

[thecupisblue]

LIDAR prices have declined and are going way low-budget now.

[robocat]

For example these guys suggesting $500: https://www.wired.com/story/lidar-cheap-make-self-driving-re...

[GuB-42]

There is a $300 vacuum cleaner robot by Xaomi that uses a LIDAR. The part can be found for $70 on AliExpress.

Obviously not the same specs as Waymo's LIDAR but at least, it proves that it doesn't have to be that expensive.