MVIS
New badge, same mission
MicroVision is adding a new weapon to its toolkit: MicroVision Semiconductor, a dedicated org focused on custom ASICs, mixed-signal integrated circuits, photonic sensing, and advanced imaging systems. Think of it as the company deciding it wants to build the engine and the car, not just rent the parts.
Why this matters
The new unit is based in Colorado Springs and brings along more than three decades of custom IC expertise. According to the company, the business — formerly Black Forest Engineering and acquired from Luminar — will serve as a center of excellence for semiconductor innovation while still supporting dozens of customers across multiple industries.
The investor angle
For MicroVision, this is less about a flashy product launch and more about capability-building. If you’re betting on lidar, photonics, and intelligent sensing, better in-house chip design can mean tighter integration, faster iteration, and potentially stronger margins down the road.
- More control over core hardware design
- Deeper push into lidar and photonics
- Extra credibility in industrial, defense, and automotive markets
Big picture: this won’t magically turn MVIS into the next chip giant overnight, but it does show the company is trying to widen its moat one transistor at a time.