CES 2026: China's Hesai will double production as lidar sensor industry shakes out

"The company's automotive efforts have been buoyed by the Chinese car market's adoption of lidar sensors, which Hesai said is now in 25% of new electric cars sold in the country. It also claimed that many new vehicles in China are expected to integrate between three to six lidar sensors per car, "significantly expanding Hesai's addressable market." Hesai boasts 24 automotive customers, including a "top European" automaker, and said it has 4 million orders for its newest ATX lidar sensor."

"Hesai has raised hundreds of millions of dollars over the last few years and is now listed on both the Nasdaq and the Hong Kong stock exchanges. That's despite fighting an uphill battle against the U.S. government, which has accused the company of working closely with China's military industry - a charge that Hesai has challenged. At the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Hesai told reporters it was able to double the production target because of "accelerating demand" in the automotive and robotics industries."

Hesai plans to double production capacity from 2 million to 4 million lidar units this year, up from just over 1 million units in 2025. The company aims to capture a larger share of the global market for laser-based sensors amid accelerating demand in automotive and robotics sectors. Hesai reports lidar adoption in 25% of new electric cars sold in China and expects many vehicles to integrate three to six sensors per car, expanding its addressable market. The company lists 24 automotive customers, including a top European automaker, and claims 4 million orders for its ATX sensor. Hesai has raised hundreds of millions of dollars and is listed on both Nasdaq and Hong Kong exchanges while confronting U.S. government accusations of ties to China's military industry.

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