Thomas Unise
Hesai Technology, a Shanghai-based company specializing in lidar sensors for 3D perception, is rapidly expanding its production capacity to meet growing demand in the automotive and robotics sectors. Having surpassed 2 million cumulative deliveries in 2025, the company is now scaling up to produce more than 4 million units annually by 2026.
Automotive Applications Driving Lidar Market Growth
According to Hesai’s co-founder and CEO David Li, the automotive sector, particularly advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), is the primary driver of the current lidar market. The high-volume production required for automotive applications has made lidar technology more affordable and accessible for mobile robotics as well.
Lidar-equipped vehicles have demonstrated significant safety improvements, with data from Li Auto showing a 90% reduction in fatal highway accidents and a 30% decrease in regular traffic accidents compared to camera-only systems. This safety enhancement has led to Hesai securing design wins from 24 automotive OEMs for mass-production programs.
Key partners include major manufacturers such as Li Auto, Xiaomi, Changan, Geely, Great Wall Motor, and joint ventures with Toyota, SAIC Audi, and SAIC-GM. Notably, Hesai’s new ATX long-range lidar has already secured orders exceeding 4 million units, with mass production beginning in April 2026.
China’s EV Market Fueling Expansion
Li believes that China’s electric vehicle market is significantly ahead of the rest of the world in terms of lidar demand, which has influenced the company’s decision to manufacture in China. Hesai has invested over $100 million in an “all-in-one” factory that handles testing, validation, and design under one roof. To further support global demand, the company is also expanding with a new facility in Thailand.
Innovations in Solid-State Lidar Technology
Hesai is leading the development of solid-state lidar sensors, which has helped reduce costs dramatically. While traditional spinning mirror lidar units used to cost $5,000 to $10,000, solid-state lidar is now available for $400 to $500 per unit. These newer sensors offer software-defined capabilities, allowing users to modify scanning patterns and resolution through software updates.
Additionally, some perception functions can be performed directly on the sensor’s silicon, reducing off-board processing requirements and speeding up detection algorithms for various applications.
Robotics Applications and Future Sensing Technologies
In the robotics sector, Hesai’s JT series mini 360° hyper-hemispherical 3D lidars have achieved over 200,000 cumulative deliveries. These compact sensors, designed with low power consumption and wide field of view, are being integrated into various mobile robots and industrial platforms.
Companies like MOVA (lawnmowing robots), DREAME (robot vacuums), Vbot (companion robots), and Realsee (3D spatial digitalization) are already implementing JT lidars in their products. Hesai has also partnered with Meituan to provide solid-state sensors for food delivery drones.
Looking ahead, Li is closely monitoring developments in the humanoid robot market. He emphasizes that while visual sensing is crucial for navigation, tactile sensing will be equally important for manipulation tasks. Hesai is interested in working with robotics companies that need to integrate visual sensing, tactile sensing, and manipulation capabilities.
Future Outlook
With its expanded production capacity and continued innovation in sensor technology, Hesai is positioning itself as a key player in the growing market for autonomous systems. The company’s focus on both automotive and robotics applications, combined with its investment in next-generation sensing technologies, suggests a strong trajectory for future growth in the lidar sector.
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