Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says his company has a different view on LiDAR and its relevance to achieving autonomous driving than Tesla. "Our view is that it's definitely beneficial, and our approach to sensors has been that we need to rapidly build our foundation model as fast as possible," Scaringe told The Verge's "Decoder" podcast in an episode that aired Monday.Scaringe told guest host and journalist Joanna Stern that there is a "real benefit" and that he "wouldn't rule out" including it in a self-driving ...

Innoviz Technologies’ (NASDAQ: INVZ) stock jumped 15% Monday as investors bet on new design wins and growth in autonomous driving.INVZ shares are powering higher on strong volume. See the market dynamics here.Shares gained despite the company trading at a discount to lidar peers, with optimism fueled by potential major automaker deals.Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Delaney upgraded the stock rating from Neutral to Buy and raised its price target from $1.50 to $2.50.Also Read: Innoviz Technologies Secures LiDAR ...

Summary of Hesai Group Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Hesai Group (HSAI/2525.HK) - **Industry**: LiDAR solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles Key Points Market Potential and Financial Projections - **Overseas ADAS Contribution**: By 2030E, overseas ADAS opportunities are expected to account for 25% of Hesai's profit, with overseas ADAS LiDAR volume projected to reach 3 million units, similar to China's volume in 2025E [1][12] - **Revenue Forecast**: Hesai's revenue is forecasted to reach RMB 14 billion and net profit RMB 3 billion by 2030E, with a net margin of 21% [1][22] - **Target Price Increase**: The 12-month ADR target price has been raised to US$36 (previously US$26.3), and the H-share target price is set at HK$281, implying 24% and 23% upside respectively [2][59] Long-term Valuation Methodology - **Valuation Methodology**: Transitioning to a long-term valuation approach of 20X P/E on 2030E EPS, discounted back to 2026E with an 11% cost of equity [2][47] - **Net Profit Estimates**: Net profit estimates for 2026E-2027E have been increased by 11%-17% due to higher expected LiDAR penetration and mass production evidence from overseas OEMs [2][46] LiDAR Market Dynamics - **Mass Production Timeline**: Expectation for overseas mass production of LiDAR-equipped vehicles to commence in 2026E/2027E, particularly among European OEMs [3][11] - **Design Wins**: Hesai has secured design wins from a top European OEM for a multi-year program, with mass production starting on premium models in 2026 and mid-end models in 2027 [11][15] Competitive Landscape - **Cost Advantage**: Hesai is positioned with a strong cost advantage due to mature mass-production capabilities, which is expected to enhance its competitiveness in the overseas market [15][22] - **Market Share Goals**: Hesai aims to capture 33% of the overseas market share by 2030E, with projected sales volume contributions of 5,000 to 1 million units from 2026E to 2030E [18][22] Risks and Challenges - **Adoption Risks**: Potential slower adoption of LiDAR technology in both domestic and overseas markets could hinder growth [53][54] - **Intensified Competition**: Increased competition from other LiDAR suppliers, particularly Huawei and Robosense, may impact Hesai's ability to secure future design wins [56] - **Pricing Pressure**: Ongoing price competition among OEMs could exert pressure on Hesai's pricing and margins [56] - **Policy Risks**: Hesai's designation as a "Chinese Military Company" by the US Department of Defense poses potential risks to its business operations and partnerships with global OEMs [56] Financial Performance - **Revenue Growth**: Projected revenue growth of 63% in 2025E and 52% in 2026E, with a significant increase in net income expected [57][60] - **Gross Margin Expectations**: Anticipated gross margin of approximately 40% for overseas ADAS, compared to 30% domestically [22][23] Conclusion - **Investment Thesis**: Hesai is positioned to benefit from the accelerating adoption of LiDAR in the NEV market and overseas ADAS opportunities, with a strong growth outlook supported by new design wins and product launches [60][62]

Summary of Hesai Technology Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Hesai Technology (HSAI.O / 2525.HK) - **Industry**: LiDAR solutions for autonomous driving and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) Key Points Investment Rating and Target Price - Coverage initiated with a **Buy** rating for Hesai-H (2525.HK) and a target price of **HK$296.9** [1] - The US listing (HSAI.O) also rated as **Buy** with an updated target price of **US$38.1**, increased from **US$37.0** [1][2] Valuation Methodology - Target prices based on a **PEG valuation methodology** reflecting a **92% CAGR** for net profit from 2025E to 2027E [1][2] - Increased **2025E PEG multiple** from **1.0x to 1.2x** due to robust new order wins and favorable policy support for Level 3 autonomous driving [1][2] Policy Support for Autonomous Driving - China's **Stable Growth Plan for Auto Sector** released on **13-Sep-2025** proposes conditional approval for Level 3 autonomous driving, enhancing road safety and insurance frameworks [2] - This policy is expected to positively impact Hesai by increasing LiDAR penetration and value content per vehicle [2] New Orders and Partnerships - Hesai secured a new LiDAR order from a leading US robotaxi company valued at over **US$40 million**, with delivery expected by the end of **2026** [4] - **HelloRide** announced its first Robotaxi, **Hello Robot1**, utilizing eight LiDARs from Hesai, with mass production slated for **2026E** and plans to deploy **50,000 units** by **2027E** [3] Risks - Key risks identified include: - Rising competition in the LiDAR market [11][19] - Potential product defects affecting market adoption [11][19] - Increases in raw material costs [11][19] - Lower-than-expected penetration of LiDAR/ADAS technologies [11][19] - Price wars impacting average selling prices [11][19] - Technology and intellectual property risks [11][19] - Regulatory risks [11][19] Financial Performance Expectations - Hesai is expected to achieve profitability starting from **2025E** [18][23] - Target price implies **43x/30x P/E** for **2026E/2027E** [18][23] Conclusion - Hesai Technology is positioned to benefit from strong growth in the LiDAR sector, supported by technological advantages and favorable market conditions, while facing several competitive and operational risks.

Summary of Conference Call Notes on Greater China Industrials (Humanoid Robots and Autonomous Driving) Industry Overview - The humanoid robot and autonomous driving (AD) sectors in China are expected to experience rapid expansion over the next decade, with significant growth anticipated in factory settings within 2-3 years and further opportunities in commercial and household applications in the long term [1][1] - The current bill of materials (BOM) cost for a fully-functional humanoid robot is approximately US$50-60k, with expectations for rapid cost reductions in the next five years due to improved product design and economies of scale [1][1] - Stricter regulations in the AD sector are anticipated to create more opportunities for AD components, particularly for LiDAR technology, which will benefit from new long-distance object detection requirements [1][1] Key Players and Developments Dobot - Dobot is a leading global collaborative robot (COBOT) brand, achieving a 47% year-over-year growth in 6-axis COBOT sales in the first half of 2025, indicating market share gains [8][8] - The company has entered the humanoid robot market, launching its first prototype in early 2025 and planning deployment in manufacturing and business scenarios [9][9] RoboSense - RoboSense is focusing on its new EMX LiDAR products, which offer superior precision and detection distance compared to competitors, with expectations to ship 600-700k units in 2025 and 1.5 million units in 2026 [10][10] - The company is also exploring opportunities in the lawn mower, unmanned delivery, and robotaxi industries, with significant partnerships established [11][11] Zhaowei Machinery & Electronics - Zhaowei has launched new dexterous hand models for humanoid robots and aims for a 10-15% global market share in this segment [12][12][13][13] - The BOM cost of the dexterous hand is estimated to account for 20-30% of the total BOM cost of a humanoid robot [13][13] Googol Technology - Googol Technology specializes in high-end control systems for advanced manufacturing and sees strong growth potential in humanoid robots due to its expertise in multi-degree-of-freedom (DoF) controlling [14][15] Minieye - Minieye is making progress with its smart driving solutions, including iPilot and iRobo, and anticipates significant growth in the penetration of front-view camera modules and driver monitoring systems due to new safety regulations [16][17] Leju Robotics - Leju targets to deliver over 1,000 units of robotics in 2025, focusing on stability and durability for large-scale applications [18][18] Orbbec - Orbbec is a leading player in robot vision systems, holding over 70% market share in 3D vision systems for service robots in China [21][21][22][22] UBTECH - UBTECH aims to ship 500 humanoid robots in 2025 and 2,000-3,000 units in 2026, with expectations for BOM cost reductions in the coming years [23][23][24][24] LK Tech - LK Tech is focusing on magnesium alloy technology for humanoid robots, which offers lightweighting and other advantages, and has signed cooperation agreements for R&D projects [25][26][26] Technology Insights - The competition between VLA (Vision-Language-Action) and world model technologies for embodied AI is highlighted, with data availability being a key bottleneck [3][3] - The vision system of humanoid robots is evolving, with depth cameras becoming the mainstream choice for enhancing sensing and navigation capabilities [22][22] Market Outlook - The humanoid robot market is expected to grow significantly, with projections of 3 million units shipped by 2030, leading to substantial opportunities for component suppliers [13][13] - The average selling price (ASP) of humanoid robots is expected to decline to approximately RMB150k (~US$20k) by 2026-2028 due to scale effects [20][20] Conclusion - The humanoid robot and AD sectors in Greater China are poised for significant growth, driven by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and increasing market demand. Key players are actively innovating and expanding their product offerings to capture market share in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Core Insights - Hesai Technology has expanded its production agreement with a US-based robotaxi firm, valued at over $40 million, ensuring product deliveries until the end of 2026 [1][3] - The robotaxi industry is experiencing significant growth, driven by advancements in Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving technology, with LiDAR systems being essential for safe navigation in urban environments [2][3] - Hesai holds a dominant position in the global market for L4 autonomous driving LiDARs, commanding a 61% market share [3] Company Developments - Hesai will supply both long-range and short-range LiDARs to the unnamed US robotaxi firm, highlighting the company's capability to support the deployment of robotaxi fleets [1][4] - Recently, Hesai secured an order from Motional, becoming the sole provider of short-range LiDARs for Motional's all-electric Ioniq 5 robotaxi [4] - In addition, Hesai announced a partnership with Toyota for a new energy vehicle model, featuring Hesai's long-range automotive LiDAR ATX, with mass production expected to start in 2026 [5] - Mercedes-Benz has also announced plans to integrate Hesai's LiDAR sensors into its smart driving vehicles for the global market [5]

Core Insights - Artificial intelligence (AI) is identified as the greatest investment opportunity of the current era, with a strong emphasis on the urgency to invest in AI technologies now [1][13] - The energy demands of AI technologies are highlighted, with data centers consuming as much energy as small cities, leading to concerns about power grid strain and rising electricity prices [2][3] Investment Opportunity - A specific company is presented as a significant investment opportunity, possessing critical energy infrastructure assets that are essential for supporting the anticipated surge in energy demand from AI data centers [3][6] - This company is characterized as a "toll booth" operator in the AI energy boom, benefiting from the increasing need for energy as AI technologies expand [4][5] Market Position - The company is noted for its ownership of nuclear energy infrastructure, positioning it strategically within America's energy strategy [7] - It is capable of executing large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction projects across various energy sectors, including oil, gas, and renewables [7][8] Financial Health - The company is described as being completely debt-free and holding a significant cash reserve, amounting to nearly one-third of its market capitalization [8][10] - It is trading at a low valuation of less than 7 times earnings, which is considered attractive given its involvement in the AI and energy sectors [10][11] Growth Potential - The company also holds a substantial equity stake in another AI-related venture, providing investors with indirect exposure to multiple growth opportunities in the AI space [9][10] - The influx of talent into the AI sector is expected to drive continuous innovation and advancements, reinforcing the long-term growth potential of investments in AI [12] Strategic Trends - The current trends include an AI infrastructure supercycle, an onshoring boom driven by tariffs, and a surge in U.S. LNG exports, all of which the company is well-positioned to capitalize on [14]

Group 1 - Morgan Stanley upgraded the rating of Suoteng Juchuang from "Neutral" to "Overweight" and raised the target price from HKD 28.6 to HKD 53, implying a projected price-to-sales ratio of 5 times for the next year [1] - The report highlights the accelerating adoption of ADAS LiDAR in China's electric vehicle market and strong demand for LiDAR in various robotic applications, including robotic lawn mowers, autonomous taxis, and logistics robots [1] - Given the broader application prospects for LiDAR and potential for further upward valuation, Suoteng Juchuang is considered worthy of a re-evaluation [1] Group 2 - Morgan Stanley forecasts Suoteng Juchuang's total LiDAR shipments to reach 836,000, 1.8 million, and 2.8 million units from 2025 to 2027, representing a compound annual growth rate of 74%, with approximately 30% of shipments coming from robotics [1] - The company is expected to maintain a gross margin of around 28%, with adjusted net profits projected at CNY 187 million and CNY 493 million for 2026 and 2027, respectively, while a net loss of approximately CNY 86 million is anticipated for 2025 [1]

智通财经APP获悉，摩根大通发布研报称，将速腾聚创(02498)投资评级由"中性"升至"增持"，目标价由 28.6港元大升至53港元，相当于未来一年预测市销率5倍。除了中国新能源汽车中ADAS及LiDAR加快采 用外，小摩注意到包括机器人割草机、无人驾驶出租车和物流机器人在内的各种机器人应用对LiDAR的 强劲需求。基于其数字化LiDAR平台，速腾聚创在ADAS和机器人领域均获得了增量设计订单，并提高 了利润率，预计这将推动出货量加速增长，并在2026年实现正净利润。同时，小摩认为，鉴于更广泛的 LiDAR应用前景和未来更多上行空间，速腾聚创值得估值重估。 小摩预计，LiDAR需求在2025、2027、2030年将达到310万、690万、1,210万单位，渗透率分别为 20%、33%、44%(今年第二季：18%)。此外，小摩看到来自机器人市场的强劲需求，例如机器人割草机 (速腾聚创从单一客户获得120万单位的重大订单，相较于2024年机器人LiDAR出货量2.4万单位)、无人 驾驶出租车、物流机器人和矿用卡车。 小摩预计速腾聚创将获得更多设计订单，并预计2025至2027年LiDAR总出货量为83.6万、18 ...

Core Viewpoint - Morgan Stanley upgraded the investment rating of SUTENG JUCHUANG (02498) from "Neutral" to "Overweight," raising the target price from HKD 28.6 to HKD 53, implying a projected price-to-sales ratio of 5 times for the next year [1] Group 1: Market Demand and Growth Projections - The demand for LiDAR is expected to reach 3.1 million, 6.9 million, and 12.1 million units by 2025, 2027, and 2030, with penetration rates of 20%, 33%, and 44% respectively, compared to 18% in Q2 of this year [1] - The company is anticipated to secure more design orders, with total LiDAR shipments projected at 836,000, 1.8 million, and 2.8 million units from 2025 to 2027, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 74%, with approximately 30% of shipments coming from the robotics sector [2] Group 2: Financial Performance and Profitability - The comprehensive gross margin is expected to stabilize around 28% from 2025 to 2027, with adjusted net profits projected at RMB 187 million and RMB 493 million for 2026 and 2027 respectively [2] - The total revenue for SUTENG JUCHUANG is estimated to be RMB 3.2 billion and RMB 4.7 billion for 2026 and 2027, with the robotics sector contributing 36% and 33% to the total revenue [2]