New York, Dec. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MKDWELL Tech Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) (Nasdaq: MKDW), a business company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) with operations in Mainland China and Taiwan, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2025. First Half 2025 Financial Highlights ●Total revenues in the first half of 2025 were US$1.37 million, representing an increase of 68.3% from US$0.81 million in the same period of 2024. ●Gross ...

Core Insights - Aeva Technologies has secured a significant Tier-1 contract with a major European passenger car manufacturer, establishing its Atlas Ultra sensor as the standard LiDAR for multiple vehicle models globally, excluding China, and ensuring production through the mid-2030s [1][9] - The successful completion of the joint development phase with the automaker has reduced technical risks and increased the likelihood of securing additional contracts [2] - Aeva is preparing for increased production capacity at its Fabrinet facility to meet anticipated demand by 2026, indicating readiness for mass production [3][4] Company Performance - Aeva reported third-quarter 2025 revenues of $3.6 million, an operating loss of $27.2 million, and cash use of $33.6 million, with total available cash around $270 million, supported by a recent $100 million investment from Apollo [3] - The company is still in an early stage, facing challenges in scaling manufacturing and proving its technology's performance and reliability [5] Market Context - The LiDAR market features competitors like Ouster and Luminar Technologies, which offer advanced sensor technologies aimed at enhancing safety and efficiency across various industries [6][7] - Aeva's stock has seen significant appreciation, more than tripling in 2025, although it trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of nearly 35, which is considerably higher than the industry average [8][10]

Automotive supplier Luminar Technologies has brought in a restructuring specialist after falling behind on multiple interest payments, underscoring mounting strain across the automotive supply chain. The US-based company makes LiDAR sensors used in advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving systems. In a filing, the company said it had failed to make interest payments on its first-lien notes due in 2028. Luminar has appointed Robin Chu, a managing director at advisory firm Portage Point Partners, ...

Core Insights - Pony AI Inc. is preparing to release its third-quarter earnings, highlighting significant developments in its operations and investments [1] Group 1: Company Developments - Pony AI is expanding its Robotaxi fleet in Guangzhou, China, in collaboration with Sunlight Mobility, with deployment expected by year-end [2] - The company has received a driverless permit in Shenzhen, further enhancing its operational capabilities in China [2] Group 2: Investment Activity - Temasek Holdings, a major sovereign wealth fund from Singapore, acquired over 14,500 shares of Pony AI, amounting to approximately $13.7 million [3] Group 3: Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Pony AI reported an EPS loss of $0.13, a significant improvement from a loss of $0.91 per share in the same quarter the previous year [4] - The company experienced a nearly 76% increase in revenue, reaching $21.46 million, with $1.5 million generated from Robotaxis, reflecting a 158% year-over-year growth [4] Group 4: Industry Challenges - Luminar Technologies, a supplier of LiDAR sensors for Pony AI's Robotaxis, has faced stock declines and partnership issues with Volvo, raising concerns about potential supply chain disruptions for Pony AI [5][6] - Despite these challenges, Pony AI has an alternative partnership with Hesai Technology for LiDAR solutions [6] Group 5: Market Performance - Pony AI's stock surged by 12.51% to $12.59 at market close, and further increased by 3.26% to $13.00 in after-hours trading [7]

Core Insights - Li Auto has chosen Hesai Technology as the exclusive supplier of LiDAR sensors for its next generation assisted driving platform, which includes the L Series, i Series, and MEGA models [1] - The partnership between Li Auto and Hesai, which began in 2021, aims to enhance advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and improve safety in complex driving scenarios [2][3] - As of October 31, Li Auto has delivered over 1.46 million vehicles, indicating strong market performance [2] Group 1: Partnership and Supply Agreement - Hesai's AT series LiDAR has facilitated the mass production of Li Auto's vehicles with advanced driver-assistance capabilities [2] - The expanded agreement solidifies Hesai's role as the exclusive LiDAR supplier for all new Li Auto models starting from May 2025 [1] - Both companies are focused on accelerating the rollout of ADAS to provide safer assisted driving experiences globally [2] Group 2: Hesai Technology's Market Position - Hesai recently produced its 1,000,000th LiDAR unit and was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising approximately HK$4.2 billion ($533 million) for future growth [3] - The company has also expanded its supply deal with a US-based robotaxi company, securing a contract worth over $40 million [3] - Hesai claims to hold the top positions in the automotive LiDAR market, including overall market share, ADAS market share, and Level 4 autonomous driving market share [4]

Core Viewpoint - Luminar Technologies has faced significant financial challenges, culminating in missed debt repayments and consistent quarterly losses that have generally exceeded market expectations [1][4]. Financial Performance - For Q2 2025, Luminar reported revenue of $15.6 million, a 5% decline year-over-year, with a net loss per share widening to $1.49 from $0.62, against a Street expectation of a loss of $1.18 per share [6]. - Service revenue increased fivefold to $3.7 million, while core product revenues fell by 24% to $12 million [6]. - Interest expenses surged to $12.3 million from $2.8 million in the previous year, negatively impacting profitability [6]. - Net cash used in operating activities decreased to approximately $98 million from $158.9 million year-over-year, but the cash balance of $48.2 million is minimal compared to total debt of $429.7 million [7]. Market Position and Valuation - Luminar's market capitalization is currently valued at $79.8 million, reflecting a 76% decline year-to-date, compared to a peak market cap of about $11 billion in December 2020 [2]. - Analysts have rated the stock as a "Moderate Sell," with a mean target price of $2.50, indicating a potential upside of about 98% from current levels [12]. Business Operations and Strategy - Founded in 2012, Luminar specializes in LiDAR sensors and software for automotive applications, including advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) [3]. - The company is working on launching a high-volume production line in Thailand by the end of the year and a low-volume prototype line by Q1 2026 [8]. - Luminar's biggest customer, Volvo, has indicated it will not use Luminar's Iris LiDAR in its vehicles starting April 2026, raising concerns about the company's future viability [8]. Product Development - Luminar's Halo product represents a significant advancement in its LiDAR offerings, designed to outperform existing ADAS technologies in speed, detection range, and accuracy [10]. - The company is focusing on core components such as lasers, receivers, and software, while outsourcing less critical functions to reduce costs, potentially saving over $80 million by 2026 [11].

Core Insights - The robotics sector is expanding beyond just robots, with significant markets in sensors, vision systems, and specialized surgical tools that are often overlooked by investors chasing humanoid robots [2][3] - F-Prime Capital's "State of Robotics" report indicates that enabling-systems companies attracted $1.6 billion in investment in 2025, an increase from $1.4 billion in 2024, highlighting the essential components needed for robotics [3][10] - Medical robotics is showcasing a proven business model, with surgical platforms generating recurring revenue and benefiting from favorable reimbursement dynamics as hospitals invest in automation [4][10] Industry Trends - The demand for enabling systems like LiDAR sensors and vision systems is growing, with robotics companies needing these technologies for various applications [3][10] - Surgical automation in medical robotics is experiencing rapid growth, with an annual increase of 56% in emerging procedures, indicating a clear path to profitability for startups in this space [4][10] Company Highlights - Ouster (NASDAQ: OUST), a manufacturer of high-resolution LiDAR sensors, reported $126 million in revenue over the last 12 months, a 26% increase from the previous year, and its stock surged 373% as investors recognized the growing role of LiDAR in robotics [6][7] - Ouster's digital LiDAR architecture offers cost and performance advantages over traditional systems, positioning the company well for scaling production and improving gross margins [8][9] - Current losses for Ouster are attributed to typical hardware scaling dynamics, with significant investments in R&D and manufacturing to meet anticipated demand from autonomous vehicles and industrial automation [9]

Industry Overview - LiDAR technology is gaining traction in the automotive sector, particularly in premium vehicles and robotaxis, due to its capabilities in 3D mapping and object detection, enhancing advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving applications [1][2] - The market for LiDAR is projected to reach a $19 billion addressable market by 2030, indicating significant growth potential [5] Company Analysis: Ouster, Inc. (OUST) - Ouster is positioned to capitalize on the increasing adoption of LiDAR across various sectors, including automotive, industrial, robotics, and smart infrastructure [4] - The 2023 merger with Velodyne has expanded Ouster's product lineup and customer base, with a target of achieving over $75 million in annual cost synergies [4] - The company is transitioning from hardware sales to software-driven solutions, aiming for recurring revenue through products like the Gemini perception platform and BlueCity analytics suite [5] - Ouster anticipates annual revenue growth of 30-50% and gross margins of 35-40%, supported by significant contracts and partnerships [5] - Despite revenue growth, Ouster remains unprofitable and expects cash burn through at least 2026, although it has a solid balance sheet with $171 million in cash and no debt [6] - OUST shares have increased by 170% year to date [6] Company Analysis: Innoviz Technologies (INVZ) - Innoviz aims to be a leading supplier of LiDAR solutions for autonomous driving, with strategic partnerships with major automotive players like BMW, Volkswagen, and Mobileye [7] - The company is focused on ramping up production of InnovizTwo and developing InnovizThree, targeting revenues of $50 million to $60 million by 2025 [8] - Innoviz is also unprofitable and expects continued cash burn, but is committed to managing expenses to improve its cash burn rate [8] - The company has launched a $75 million at-the-market program to support general business purposes, including R&D and production [10] - INVZ shares have gained 17.2% year to date [10] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OUST's 2025 revenues and EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 24% and 29.8%, respectively [11] - For INVZ, the estimates imply a year-over-year revenue increase of 189.8% and EPS growth of 44.7% for 2025 [12] Valuation Metrics - Ouster is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple of 9.73, significantly above its median of 3.22 over the past three years [13] - Innoviz is trading at a forward price-to-sales multiple of 2.63, also above its median of 2.4 over the last three years [13] Conclusion - Ouster's broad product lineup and focus on software-led solutions position it well for future growth in the LiDAR market [15] - Innoviz is well-positioned in the automotive LiDAR market, particularly with the acceleration of Level 4 robotaxi deployments [15] - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank 3, but Innoviz is viewed as a safer investment option amid sector growth [16]

Group 1 - Seyond Holdings Ltd., the LiDAR supplier for Nio Inc., has received approval for its Hong Kong stock listing through a SPAC merger with TechStar Acquisition Corporation, allowing for the listing of up to 190,240,000 shares [1][2][3] - The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) requires Seyond to report on the status of the listing completion within 15 business days [3] - Seyond has been supplying LiDAR technology to Nio since the launch of the ET7 model in 2022 [3] Group 2 - The successful Hong Kong debuts of battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technologies Ltd. (CATL) and Chery Automobile highlight a positive trend in the market, with CATL raising over $4.6 billion and Chery raising over $1.2 billion through their IPOs [4] - CATL's share price increased by 12.5% from its initial price, while Chery's shares rose to HK$34.16 [4] Group 3 - Tesla Inc. reported a significant 126% increase in sales in China during the week of October 6 to October 12, delivering 71,525 units in September, marking its second-highest sales tally in the region [5] - Hesai Group, a competitor of Seyond, announced a $40 million deal to supply LiDAR sensors to a U.S. Robotaxi company, indicating ongoing demand in the LiDAR market [6]

Core Insights - The company aims to expand its presence in the Hong Kong and China markets, recognizing the sophistication of local investors compared to typical NASDAQ shareholders [1] - Over $500 million has been raised, primarily for research and development (R&D), highlighting the company's commitment to innovation [2] - The company has historically invested a significant portion of its revenue into R&D, with a 54% increase in revenues reaching nearly $100 million [3] Market Focus - The company does not differentiate its R&D focus between markets, indicating a unified approach to innovation [4] - The company develops automotive sensors for a global market, adapting strategies based on regional developments, particularly noting differences between the U.S. and China in autonomous vehicle technology [5] - The product lines are designed to appeal to various market levels across different countries, indicating a broad market strategy [6] Growth Opportunities - The company sees significant growth potential in the China electric vehicle (EV) market, aiming for 100% penetration of safety sensors [7] - The robotics sector presents diverse opportunities, including applications in robo-taxis, food delivery, and automated lawn care, leveraging the same technology developed for automotive sensors [8] - The company reported an eightfold year-over-year increase in sensor shipments, indicating strong demand across multiple industries [9] Future Outlook - Robotics is viewed as a key future growth area, with automotive applications being just the beginning of a broader trend [10]