Vi e w p o i n t | 07 Jan 2026 21:53:55 ET │ 12 pages Hesai (HSAI.O /2525.HK) Hesai sets 26E Capacity +100% YoY to 4mn units (versus our sales target 3.67mn units) CITI'S TAKE Hesai at CES 2026 showcased its latest LiDAR technologies covering ADAS and robotics, but also announced significant partnerships with companies like NVIDIA (Global L4 and Robotaxi Ecosystem Building on NVIDIA), doubling its annual production capacity to 4mn units, and steady progress at its Thailand factory with capacity expansion. S ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, the company achieved a net revenue of RMB 795 million (approximately $112 million), representing a 47% year-over-year increase [15] - The total shipments reached 441,398 units, up 229% year-over-year [15] - The company reported a record quarterly GAAP net income of RMB 256 million (approximately $36 million), bringing the nine-month total to RMB 283 million (approximately $40 million) [17] - The gross margin remained healthy at 42%, driven by economies of scale and manufacturing productivity [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The ADAS market saw significant progress, with LiDAR becoming a standard feature in vehicles, achieving 100% adoption from top ADAS customers for their 2026 models [6] - The robotics business is also growing, with shipments of robotics LiDAR increasing 14-fold year-over-year [15] - The company expects to ship approximately 600,000 units in Q4 2025, with the ATX LiDAR accounting for roughly 80% of total deliveries [23] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company captured a 46% market share in the long-range automotive LiDAR market as of August 2025, significantly outpacing competitors [4] - Regulatory developments in China, such as the introduction of conditional approval for L3 vehicle production, are expected to drive demand for higher-level autonomous driving systems [7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to evolve into a full-spectrum technology infrastructure builder, focusing on redefining how vehicles and robots perceive and interact with the world [12] - The strategy includes leveraging AI across operations to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, with a target of RMB 100 million in operating expense savings by 2025 [17] - The company is exploring new growth engines beyond LiDAR, including advanced sensing technologies and AI capabilities [72] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the continued growth of the LiDAR market, anticipating strong demand for ADAS LiDAR in passenger vehicles, with shipments expected to reach 2-3 million units in 2026 [24] - The company raised its full-year GAAP net income guidance for 2025 to a range of RMB 350 million to RMB 450 million [17] - Management highlighted the importance of safety redundancy in higher-level autonomous driving systems, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of LiDAR technology [41] Other Important Information - The company successfully completed its dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising $614 million, marking a significant milestone in its growth trajectory [12][14] - The company has signed new supply agreements with leading global autonomous driving companies, indicating strong international expansion [11][66] Q&A Session Summary Question: Pricing strategy and volume expectations for next year - Management indicated that Q4 revenues are expected to reach RMB 1.0-1.2 billion, driven by the rapid adoption of LiDAR in passenger vehicles [22] - The ATX LiDAR is expected to account for a significant portion of Q4 deliveries, with a market price around $200 [23] Question: Competition and technology advancements - Management acknowledged strong competition but emphasized the company's structured timeline for product releases and the superior performance of its products [31][32] - The company is exploring SPAD technology for LiDAR, focusing on addressing challenges related to noise and false triggering [35][36] Question: Level 3 legislation and product improvements - Management expressed optimism about the regulatory environment in China and Europe, noting strong customer demand for L3 applications [41][43] - The number of LiDAR units per vehicle is expected to increase significantly as L3 adoption accelerates [42] Question: Robotics business growth and shipment expectations - The robotics segment is expected to see significant growth, with shipments anticipated to double in 2026 compared to 2025 [58] - The company holds a dominant market share in the robotaxi segment, supplying major players in the industry [55] Question: Key customers and demand scale for ADAS products - Management identified key OEMs such as BYD, Li Auto, and Xiaomi as major customers for ADAS products, with strong momentum in LiDAR adoption [62]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, the company reported a net revenue increase of nearly 50% year-over-year, reaching RMB 795 million (approximately $112 million) [4][15] - The company achieved a record quarterly GAAP net income of RMB 256 million (approximately $36 million), bringing the nine-month total to RMB 283 million (approximately $40 million) [5][17] - Total shipments reached 441,398 units, up 229% year-over-year, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of robust year-over-year growth [15] - The gross margin remained healthy at 42%, driven by economies of scale and manufacturing productivity [16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The ADAS market is seeing rapid adoption of LiDAR as a standard feature, with 100% LiDAR adoption from top two ADAS customers for their 2026 models [6] - The robotics business is becoming a significant growth driver, with a 14-fold year-over-year rise in robotics LiDAR shipments [15] - The company expects to ship approximately 600,000 units in Q4 2025, with the ATX LiDAR accounting for roughly 80% of total deliveries [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company captured a 46% share of the long-range automotive LiDAR market in August 2025, leading the market for seven consecutive months [4] - Regulatory developments in China, such as the introduction of conditional approval for L3 vehicle production, are paving the way for higher-level autonomous driving [6][7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to evolve into a full-spectrum technology infrastructure builder, redefining how cars and robots perceive and interact with the world [11] - The successful dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange strengthens the company's financial foundation, enabling further investment in innovation and market opportunities [13][11] - The company is exploring new growth engines beyond LiDAR, including advanced sensing technologies and AI capabilities [70][74] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strong demand for ADAS LiDAR in passenger vehicles, anticipating shipments to reach at least 2-3 million units in 2026 [24] - The company raised its full-year GAAP net income guidance for 2025 to a range of RMB 350 million to RMB 450 million [17][24] - Management highlighted the importance of safety redundancy in higher-level autonomous driving systems, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of LiDAR technology [40] Other Important Information - The company successfully completed its dual primary listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising $614 million, marking the largest IPO in the global LiDAR sector [11][13] - The company is witnessing a significant shift in the automotive industry towards multi-LiDAR setups, with expectations of three to six LiDARs per L3 vehicle [8][41] Q&A Session Summary Question: Pricing strategy and volume expectations for next year - Management indicated that Q4 revenues are expected to reach RMB 1.0-1.2 billion, driven by rapid adoption of LiDAR in passenger vehicles [22] - The ATX LiDAR is expected to account for a significant portion of deliveries, with a market price around $200 [23] Question: Competition and technology updates - Management acknowledged strong competition but emphasized the company's structured timeline for product releases and the superior performance of its products [30][32] - The company is exploring SPAD technology for LiDAR, addressing challenges related to noise and false triggering [34][36] Question: L3 legislation and product improvements - Management noted that regulatory developments in China are accelerating the adoption of L3 vehicles, with significant demand for additional LiDAR units per vehicle [40][41] Question: Major customers and demand scale - Key OEMs expected to be top ADAS customers include Li Auto, Xiaomi, BYD, and others, with strong momentum in intelligent driving [61][62] Question: Overseas expansion and potential customers - The company is strengthening its international presence, securing deals with leading global autonomous driving companies and major JVs [64][66]