Comma, a consumer electronics company focused on developing self-driving technology, has announced a restructuring of its organizational framework to better align with its mission and growth trajectory.
Organizational restructuring: Comma has introduced a new “triangle” structure consisting of operations, product, and autonomy teams to streamline its efforts in delivering advanced AI-driven automotive solutions.
- The operations team will oversee company infrastructure, including finances, human resources, logistics, and fleet management.
- The product team is tasked with designing and manufacturing hardware, developing low-level software, and creating the user application.
- The autonomy team is responsible for developing the autonomous agent software and its supporting infrastructure.
Current status and achievements: Comma has made significant progress in its pursuit of self-driving technology while maintaining a lean and efficient operation.
- The company employs 21 people, primarily engineers, working from their San Diego, CA office.
- Comma is currently shipping openpilot 0.9.7, which is engaged for 54% of miles driven and 29% of total driving time.
- The company is profitably selling comma 3X devices to a growing fleet of users.
- Production capacity is being scaled up to increase device output by a factor of 10.
Future focus and strategy: Comma has outlined clear objectives to advance its technology and expand its market presence.
- The company aims to reduce disengagements using a new simulator.
- Product improvements will focus on creating a consumer-friendly device that can be easily purchased and installed.
- Scaling up production to achieve a fully automated “lights-out” factory is a key goal.
Open-source approach and business model: Comma has addressed common questions about its open-source strategy and long-term viability.
- The company generates revenue through hardware sales and an optional software subscription, maintaining profitability since its last funding round two years ago.
- Open-sourcing the software aligns with the company’s values and prevents rent-seeking behavior.
- Comma welcomes ecosystem growth through software forks and hardware clones, believing that offering a quality product at a fair price will ensure continued success.
Industry positioning and partnerships: Comma has a clear perspective on its place in the automotive industry and potential collaborations.
- The company is skeptical of traditional auto manufacturers’ ability to quickly implement advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) comparable to openpilot.
- Comma is open to the possibility of openpilot being integrated into cars by Tier 1 suppliers or new manufacturers in the future.
- The current focus is on improving product quality to increase openpilot adoption in more vehicles.
Expanding the team: Comma is actively recruiting to support its growth and technological advancement.
- The company plans to add approximately five new team members across its autonomy, product, and production departments.
- Interested candidates can explore opportunities through Comma’s new leaderboard and jobs page, which includes programming challenges that double as hiring assessments.
Looking ahead: Balancing innovation and practicality: While fully autonomous vehicles remain a future goal, Comma is capitalizing on the immediate benefits of partial autonomy in millions of compatible cars already on the road.
- The company’s strategy balances long-term innovation with the delivery of practical, revenue-generating products.
- By focusing on improving existing technology and scaling production, Comma is positioning itself for sustainable growth in the evolving automotive AI landscape.
