China’s Hesai Plans to Double Lidar Sensor Production Amid Industry Changes
Hesai aims to boost production from 2 to 4 million lidar sensors this year as it seeks to expand in a shifting market after Luminar’s bankruptcy.
Shanghai: Hesai, a Chinese lidar maker, announced plans to double production. They will increase from 2 million to 4 million lidar sensors this year. This change comes as they want to capture more of the global market for these laser-based sensors.
This production boost follows a recent announcement that U.S. lidar maker Luminar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Luminar may not continue after its bankruptcy plan is finished, but it is trying to sell its lidar business.
Hesai has raised a lot of money in recent years and is now on both the Nasdaq and Hong Kong stock exchanges. Still, they face challenges from the U.S. government, which has accused the company of working with China’s military. Hesai says those accusations are not true.
At the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Hesai explained that they can double their production due to growing demand from the automotive and robotics sectors. In China, 25% of new electric cars now use lidar sensors. Many new cars plan to include three to six sensors each, which means more business for Hesai.
Hesai has 24 automotive customers and has received 4 million orders for its latest ATX lidar sensor. However, the lidar market outside China can be shaky. Luminar faced trouble getting contracts with big car makers like Volvo, which backed out of a large order for many sensors.
While robotics are a potential market for lidar sensors, the success isn’t guaranteed. Companies like Ouster see a big chance in the robotics field, especially for delivery robots and military uses.
At the conference, Hesai displayed a robotic lawnmower and a robotic dog that use their JT series lidar sensor. They also hinted they could be part of future humanoid robots. Hesai has deals with companies like Pony AI and Baidu for self-driving vehicles.
Hesai said they have lowered the cost of lidar sensors by 99.5% in eight years. This price drop was also a factor in Luminar’s struggles. They found it hard to build a strong business when competitors in China offered much lower prices.