Hesai Technology
Corporate brand
UnclaimedChinese developer and manufacturer of LiDAR sensors for advanced driver-assistance systems, autonomous vehicles, robotics, and industrial applications.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Hesai Technology, also known as Hesai or 禾赛, is a Chinese technology company focused on the development and sale of LiDAR sensors. Its products are used in advanced driver-assistance systems, autonomous and automated vehicles, robotaxis, robotics, and industrial applications. LiDAR uses laser pulses to measure distance and construct a three-dimensional view of the surrounding environment, making it an important sensing technology for automated driving and mobile robots. Hesai grew during a period when LiDAR became increasingly central to autonomous-driving development. Early autonomous-vehicle LiDAR systems were expensive, with reference material describing prices of up to approximately US$80,000 for a set. Hesai competed partly through lower pricing, reportedly offering systems at about US$40,000, while also emphasizing local technical support and after-sales service in China. This domestic service capability became especially important for robotaxi operators. Before working with Hesai, Baidu had obtained LiDAR-related equipment from Velodyne Lidar, but the absence of a China-based warehouse meant that repairs could require components to travel between China and the United States. Hesai's local repair capability was described as reducing repair times to roughly two days. Baidu selected Hesai as a supplier in 2018. The company subsequently expanded from robotaxi and research applications toward production-oriented passenger vehicles. Hesai introduced its first generation of LiDAR for self-driving cars in 2021 and a second generation in 2022. Li Auto became a major customer and is described in the reference material as Hesai's largest customer. Other named automotive customers include Lotus Cars, Changan Automobile, SAIC Motor, FAW Group, Nio, and XPeng. Hesai has also supplied or supported autonomous-driving and robotaxi programs involving Cruise, Aurora Innovation, Apolong, DiDi, and Pony.ai. Hesai entered the United States public markets through an initial public offering on Nasdaq on February 9, 2023. The offering raised approximately US$190 million according to the reference material, and the shares rose 11% on their first trading day. The company selected a U.S. listing in part to gain broader international exposure. The listing later became connected to geopolitical and regulatory risk after the U.S. Department of Defense designated Hesai as a Chinese military company in January 2024. Hesai challenged the designation in court, arguing that the process was arbitrary and lacked adequate explanation and opportunity for response. The Department of Defense removed the company from the list in August 2024, then relisted it in October 2024 based on new information. Hesai continued its legal challenge and appealed a later federal court ruling in July 2025. The company has been described as a leading supplier in the robotaxi LiDAR market. The reference material attributes a 73% share of robotaxi LiDAR supply to Hesai in 2023. A Yole Group report identified Hesai as the leading automotive LiDAR supplier in 2025, with a 33% automotive LiDAR share and a 26% passenger-vehicle LiDAR share. RoboSense is commonly identified as Hesai's principal Chinese rival. Hesai has also pursued geographic and production expansion. In September 2025 it sought a secondary listing in Hong Kong, reportedly targeting up to US$497 million, amid renewed concerns about possible U.S. listing restrictions. In November 2025 it announced plans for a factory in Bangkok, Thailand, to support international demand. In January 2026 it said it intended to increase production capacity from two million units to four million units during 2026.
History
Hesai Technology developed during the expansion of the autonomous-driving industry, when LiDAR became a key component in the sensor suites used by robotaxis, automated vehicles, and mobile robots. The commercial opportunity was initially constrained by high equipment prices. The reference material describes early LiDAR sets as costing as much as approximately US$80,000. Hesai sought to compete by offering systems at roughly half that level, or about US$40,000, while building a service model suited to the Chinese market. A significant early advantage was local support. Baidu had previously sourced LiDAR equipment from Velodyne Lidar for robotaxi projects. Because Velodyne did not maintain a warehouse in China, repairs could involve shipping components between China and the United States and could take months. Hesai provided domestic after-sales support and reportedly could repair components in about two days. Baidu selected Hesai as a supplier in 2018, giving the company an important position in China's developing autonomous-vehicle ecosystem. Hesai later broadened its focus from robotaxi and development programs to passenger vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems. It launched its first generation of LiDAR for self-driving cars in 2021 and a second generation in 2022. Li Auto became a customer in 2021 and is identified in the reference material as Hesai's largest customer. The company's named automotive customers also include Lotus Cars, Changan Automobile, SAIC Motor, FAW Group, Nio, and XPeng. Its technology has additionally been associated with robotaxi and autonomous-driving programs operated or developed by Cruise, Aurora Innovation, Apolong, DiDi, and Pony.ai. The company became publicly traded in the United States on February 9, 2023, when it completed an initial public offering on Nasdaq. The reference material states that the offering raised approximately US$190 million and that the shares rose 11% on the first trading day. Hesai selected a U.S. listing to improve its international visibility. The listing subsequently exposed the company to heightened U.S.-China technology and national-security tensions. In May 2023, a Congressional Research Service report accused Hesai of supporting the Chinese military. The U.S. Department of Defense added the company to its Chinese military-company list in January 2024. Hesai filed suit in May 2024, arguing that the designation was arbitrary and capricious and that the government had not given it adequate notice, evidence, rationale, or a meaningful opportunity to respond. The Department removed Hesai from the list in August 2024 after determining that the company did not meet the legal criteria for inclusion, but relisted it in October 2024 on the basis of new information. Hesai continued its lawsuit and appealed a later federal decision in July 2025. Operationally, Hesai has remained focused on scaling automotive and robotaxi deployments. The reference material reports that it held 73% of the robotaxi LiDAR-supplier market in 2023. In a 2025 Yole Group market assessment, Hesai was identified as the leading automotive LiDAR supplier, with a 33% overall automotive LiDAR share and a 26% passenger-vehicle share. RoboSense is described as its main Chinese competitor, while Huawei and Seyond are also identified among the leading companies in the broader automotive LiDAR market. Hesai has pursued additional capital-market and manufacturing options as geopolitical uncertainty increased. In September 2025 it sought a secondary Hong Kong listing, reportedly aiming to raise approximately US$497 million. In November 2025 it announced plans for a Bangkok factory intended to support global demand. In January 2026 the company said it planned to increase production capacity from two million units to four million units in 2026. These moves indicate an effort to support international automotive customers, diversify manufacturing capacity, and continue the transition from development-oriented LiDAR toward higher-volume vehicle production.
- 2026
Planned production-capacity doubling
[1]Hesai stated that it intended to increase production capacity from two million to four million units during 2026.
- 2025
Proposed Hong Kong secondary listing
[1]Hesai sought a secondary listing in Hong Kong, reportedly targeting approximately US$497 million.
- 2025
Bangkok factory plan
[1]Hesai announced plans for a factory in Bangkok to support international demand.
- 2024
Department of Defense designation dispute
[1]Hesai challenged its inclusion on the U.S. Department of Defense list of Chinese military companies; the company was removed and later relisted.
- 2023
Nasdaq initial public offering
[1]Hesai began trading on Nasdaq on February 9, 2023. The referenced account reports approximately US$190 million in proceeds and an 11% first-day share-price gain.
- 2022
Second-generation self-driving-car LiDAR
[1]Hesai launched a second generation of LiDAR for self-driving-car applications.
- 2021
First-generation self-driving-car LiDAR
[1]Hesai launched its first generation of LiDAR designed for self-driving cars.
- 2018
Baidu supply contract
[1]Baidu selected Hesai as a LiDAR supplier, helped by Hesai's China-based repair and after-sales service capabilities.
Products and positioning
A Chinese LiDAR technology supplier positioned around cost competitiveness, automotive-scale deployment, autonomous-driving performance, and localized customer support.
Automotive sensing
Automotive LiDAR sensors
Hesai's automotive LiDAR systems are intended to provide three-dimensional environmental perception for advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicles. They are designed for deployment in passenger vehicles and other road vehicles, complementing cameras, radar, and other sensors. The company moved into self-driving-car LiDAR generations in 2021 and 2022 and has supplied or pursued relationships with multiple Chinese and international automotive manufacturers.
Autonomous mobility
Robotaxi LiDAR
Hesai supplies LiDAR for robotaxi and autonomous-driving programs. Its value proposition in this segment has included lower pricing than early-generation systems and domestic service support in China. Named customers and users associated with relevant programs include Baidu, Cruise, Aurora Innovation, Apolong, DiDi, and Pony.ai. The referenced material reports that Hesai held 73% of the robotaxi LiDAR-supplier market in 2023.
Robotics and industrial sensing
Robotics and industrial LiDAR
Hesai also develops LiDAR products for robotics and industrial uses. These applications use distance measurement and three-dimensional perception for navigation, automation, and environmental sensing. The available reference material identifies these sectors as part of Hesai's business scope but does not provide product-level model names or launch dates.
Controversies
2024
U.S. Department of Defense Chinese military-company designation
The U.S. Department of Defense added Hesai to its list of Chinese military companies in January 2024. Hesai sued in May, arguing that the action lacked adequate notice, evidence, explanation, and opportunity for response. The company was removed in August after the Department concluded it did not meet the applicable legal criteria, then relisted in October on the basis of new information. Hesai continued its litigation and later appealed a federal ruling upholding the designation.
Brand decisions
2026
Plan to double production capacityStrategyBackground
Hesai identified additional capacity as necessary to serve automotive and international demand.
Action taken
The company announced an intention to increase capacity from two million units to four million units in 2026.
Aftermath
The plan, if implemented, would materially expand Hesai's manufacturing scale.
2025
Seek a Hong Kong secondary listingM&ABackground
Hesai faced renewed concerns about U.S. listing and regulatory risks.
Action taken
The company sought a secondary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Aftermath
The proposed listing was presented as a way to broaden capital-market access; the reference material reports a target of approximately US$497 million.
Proposed secondary-listing proceeds. Target of approximately US$497 million (September 2025 proposal)
2025
Expand manufacturing to ThailandStrategyBackground
Hesai sought to support growing international demand and broaden its manufacturing footprint.
Action taken
The company announced plans to build a factory in Bangkok.
Aftermath
The planned facility was intended to support global customers and overseas demand.
2024
Challenge the Department of Defense designationOtherBackground
The U.S. Department of Defense listed Hesai as a Chinese military company in January 2024.
Action taken
Hesai filed a lawsuit in May 2024 and argued that the designation was arbitrary and procedurally deficient.
Aftermath
The Department removed Hesai from the list in August and relisted it in October. Hesai continued its legal challenge.
2023
Pursue a U.S. public listingStrategyBackground
Hesai sought greater exposure to international investors and markets.
Action taken
The company completed an initial public offering on Nasdaq on February 9, 2023.
Aftermath
Hesai became publicly traded in the United States, but later faced additional geopolitical and regulatory exposure there.
IPO proceeds. Approximately US$190 million raised (February 9, 2023 IPO)
2022
Launch the second self-driving-car LiDAR generationGeneration changeBackground
Automotive customers were seeking successive generations of LiDAR suitable for autonomous and assisted-driving systems.
Action taken
Hesai introduced a second generation of LiDAR for self-driving cars.
Aftermath
The product-generation transition supported the company's expansion into automotive customer programs.
2021
Enter self-driving-car LiDARProduct launchBackground
Hesai had established a position in LiDAR for autonomous-driving and robotaxi programs.
Action taken
The company launched its first-generation LiDAR for self-driving cars.
Aftermath
Hesai expanded its addressable market toward passenger vehicles and production-oriented automotive applications.
2018
Build a China-centered service advantageStrategyBackground
Imported LiDAR equipment could require lengthy cross-border repair logistics for Chinese autonomous-driving operators.
Action taken
Hesai provided domestic after-sales support and repair capability, helping it win a Baidu supply contract.
Aftermath
The arrangement strengthened Hesai's position in China's robotaxi and autonomous-driving market.
Recent events
Reported
Hesai launches Kosmo 3D world data engine with Kosmo One camera and Kosmo World cloud platform[2]
On October 14, 2026, Hesai Technology officially launched Kosmo, a 3D world data engine, and simultaneously introduced the 8K ultra-HD AI spatial camera Kosmo One and the AI-driven cloud platform Kosmo World, which the company describes as a step from lidar toward core physical AI infrastructure serving embodied intelligence, world models and content creation.
Reported
Meituan and Hesai announce strategic partnership[3]
Meituan and Hesai announced a strategic partnership for four years of cooperation in autonomous delivery. Hesai will supply Meituan with multiple lidar products for its autonomous delivery business.
Hesai partners with NVIDIA for DRIVE platform lidar[4]
Hesai announced a partnership with NVIDIA under which NVIDIA will use Hesai's Pandar128 lidar as the ground-truth sensor for its NVIDIA DRIVE autonomous-driving development system.
Reported
Hesai announces distribution agreement with LiDAR USA[5]
Hesai Technology announced an agreement for LiDAR USA to distribute Hesai LiDAR products in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Reported
Black Sesame Technologies and Hesai Technology announce strategic partnership[6]
Black Sesame Technologies and Hesai Technology announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop integrated autonomous-driving solutions for applications including road-side integrated perception and autonomous driving.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Aiways and Hesai enter strategic cooperation agreement[7]
Chinese electric vehicle maker Aiways entered a strategic cooperation agreement with Hesai Technology to promote the wider application of automotive-grade LiDAR.
- Unconfirmed
Hesai completes Series D funding exceeding $300 million[8]
Hesai completed a Series D funding round of more than $300 million, with GL Ventures, Xiaomi, Meituan and CPE among the lead investors.
Reported
Hesai completes $173 million Series C funding[9]
Hesai Technology completed a $173 million Series C financing round, co-led by Lightspeed China and Bosch, with several other investors participating.
Reported
Hesai launches PandarQT lidar[10]
Hesai Technology launched its PandarQT ultra-wide-angle short-range lidar at CES 2020.
Sources12 sources
- 1Hesai Technology - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- 2禾赛发布三维世界数据引擎Kosmo及Kosmo One空间相机、Kosmo World云平台163.com
- 3美团与禾赛科技达成战略合作finance.sina.com.cn
- 4禾赛科技与英伟达合作，为DRIVE平台提供激光雷达itbear.com.cn
- 5禾赛科技宣布与 LiDAR USA 达成分销协议prnewswire.com
- 6黑芝麻智能与禾赛科技宣布达成战略合作prnasia.com
- 7爱驰与禾赛科技达成战略合作协议autonews.gasgoo.com
- 8禾赛完成超过3亿美元D轮融资pe.hexun.com
- 9禾赛科技完成1.73亿美元C轮融资tech.sina.com.cn
- 10禾赛科技发布PandarQT激光雷达prnasia.com
- 11Building the Data Infrastructure for Physical AI: Hesai Launches Kosmo 3D World Data Engineprnewswire.com
- 12Hesai Unveils PandarXT, 32-Channel Mid-Range LiDAR with Self-Developed, Proprietary LiDAR ASICsprnewswire.com
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