Hesai(US:HSAI) Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2026-01-15 15:07Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the growth potential of the autonomous driving industry, particularly focusing on the increasing demand for lidar technology and computational power, which are essential for the advancement of self-driving vehicles [1] Group 1: Market Trends - The sales volume of lidar, a key hardware component for distance measurement in autonomous vehicles, has been steadily increasing as prices for entry-level lidar units have dropped to lower levels, now available for around 1,000 to 3,000 yuan [1] - The market anticipates that 2026 will be a pivotal year for the transition of autonomous driving from the "technology validation phase" to "wider commercial application," presenting growth opportunities for component manufacturers in the related supply chain [1] Group 2: Technological Advancements - The demand for computational power is critical, with expectations that the rollout of Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving will significantly boost market growth, potentially expanding the scale of demand by more than tenfold [1] - Analysts from Deutsche Bank predict that autonomous vehicles will move beyond pilot phases into full commercial deployment, indicating a significant shift in the industry landscape [1]