Mapmaker Ushr adds Nissan to customer list

Mapmaking technology company Ushr Inc. has compiled high-definition map data on more than 500,000 miles of roads in the United States.

Those maps enable key driver-assist features. Perhaps most notably, the company's map data underpins Cadillac's Super Cruise hands-free driving feature.

Now a second global automaker will utilize those maps. Nissan said Thursday it has been collaborating with the Livonia, Mich.-based mapmaker for a long time, and the two companies revealed that Nissan's ProPilot Assist 2.0 driver-assist system will use Ushr's maps.

That system made its U.S. debut on the 2023 Nissan Ariya, which reached dealerships in late 2022.

Unlike other mapmakers, Ushr says its roots in civil engineering and survey work allow it to differentiate its product from competitors. Using lidar sensors, the company collects information that allows cars to discern their location to within 10 centimeters.

Practically, this allows for smoother lane centering and more nuanced speed adjustments.

"Our goal is to offer automakers precise map data that makes drivers feel comfortable using this technology," Ushr CEO Chris Thibodeau said.

— Pete Bigelow

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