For Rivian's chief of autonomy, the decision to put in lidar for the EV company's coming R2 SUV was obvious. James Philbin, Rivian's VP of autonomy and AI, told Business Insider that the price of lidar has decreased significantly enough in recent years to be able to put the sensor inside a personally-owned, mass-production vehicle."It's been on this incredible cost curve, where 10 years ago, it would be just unimaginable that you could put a lidar on a consumer vehicle. And now it's getting into that price ...

Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ:LI) will release earnings results for the third quarter, before the opening bell on Wednesday, Nov. 26.Analysts expect the China-based company to report quarterly earnings of 4 cents per share, on revenue of $3.76 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro.Hesai Technology (NASDAQ:HSAI) was recently named the exclusive lidar supplier for Li Auto's next-generation assisted driving platform. The agreement covers all upcoming models, including the "L" Series, "i" Series, and "MEGA," mark ...

Li Auto Inc. (NASDAQ:LI) will release earnings results for the third quarter, before the opening bell on Wednesday, Nov. 26.Analysts expect the China-based company to report quarterly earnings of 4 cents per share, on revenue of $3.76 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro.Hesai Technology (NASDAQ:HSAI) was recently named the exclusive lidar supplier for Li Auto's next-generation assisted driving platform. The agreement covers all upcoming models, including the "L" Series, "i" Series, and "MEGA," mark ...

Core Insights - Hesai Technology has been selected by Li Auto to supply lidars for all models in its next-generation assisted driving platform, including the "L" Series, "i" Series, and "MEGA" [1] - Li Auto has delivered over 1.46 million vehicles as of October 31, 2025, and has made lidar a standard feature across all new models since May 2025 [2] - The partnership between Hesai and Li Auto has been ongoing since 2021, focusing on the development and mass production of automotive-grade lidars, enhancing safety in complex driving scenarios [3] - Future collaboration between Hesai and Li Auto aims to accelerate the adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and improve assisted driving experiences globally [4] Company Overview - Hesai Technology is recognized as a global leader in lidar solutions and has achieved the milestone of producing its 1,000,000th lidar unit in 2025 [4] - Li Auto is a prominent new energy vehicle manufacturer, specializing in premium smart electric vehicles [2]

Group 1 - Ouster (OUST) has shown a rebound from a critical support level, indicating potential growth ahead of its third-quarter earnings report [1] - The stock is highlighted as one of the best names to watch as the market reaches record highs [1] - Ouster specializes in high-performance lidar technology, which is gaining traction in the artificial intelligence sector [4] Group 2 - The company has received an 85 Relative Strength (RS) rating, indicating strong market performance [4] - Ouster's stock has seen its relative strength ratings climb over 90, reflecting renewed technical strength [4] - The CEO emphasizes the expanding reach of lidar technology in the physical AI space [4]

Core Viewpoint - Hesai Group, a leader in lidar solutions, will report its third quarter 2025 unaudited financial results on November 11, 2025, before the U.S. market opens [1]. Financial Results Announcement - The earnings conference call is scheduled for 7:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on November 11, 2025, which corresponds to 8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on the same day [2]. - Participants can join the call by completing pre-registration and dialing in 5 minutes prior to the start time [2]. Conference Call Details - A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the company's investor relations website [3]. - A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call until November 18, 2025, with specific dial-in numbers provided for different regions [3]. Company Overview - Hesai Technology is recognized as a global leader in lidar solutions, with applications in passenger and commercial vehicles, autonomous driving, and robotics [4]. - The company integrates in-house manufacturing with lidar R&D and design, ensuring rapid product iteration and high performance [4]. - Hesai has established offices in Shanghai, Palo Alto, and Stuttgart, serving customers in over 40 countries [4].

Core Insights - Austin Russell, the billionaire founder of Luminar, is attempting to acquire the lidar manufacturer five months after his removal as CEO due to an ethics inquiry [1][4] - The acquisition plan involves Russell's new company, Russell AI Labs, purchasing 100% of Luminar's Class A Common Stock, with intentions to potentially merge Luminar with a larger automotive technology company to form a unified platform [2][3] Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition proposal was made on October 14, following suggestions from certain Luminar shareholders and board members, though specific names were not disclosed [3] - If the acquisition proceeds, Luminar would remain publicly traded, and Russell may invest in the newly combined entity [2] Group 2: Background Context - Russell's removal as CEO was announced on May 19, coinciding with Luminar's first-quarter earnings report, and was attributed to a "code of business conduct and ethics inquiry" conducted by the board's audit committee [4][5] - Russell has a history of takeover attempts, including a failed bid for Forbes in 2023, which faced complications due to investor follow-through issues and alleged connections to a Russian oligarch [6] Group 3: Current Company Structure - Despite his removal, Russell remains on Luminar's board and was expected to assist the new CEO with transition and technology matters, although he has not signed any SEC filings since his departure [8] - Russell co-founded Russell AI Labs in September, which aims to support transformative AI and technology companies, and has already invested $300 million in an AI company called Emergence [9]

Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been filed against Cepton, Inc. and certain officers, alleging violations of federal securities laws during the Class Period from July 29, 2024, to January 6, 2025, related to the company's merger with Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. [1][5] Group 1: Class Action Details - The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for all persons and entities that purchased or sold Cepton common stock during the Class Period [1] - Investors have until December 8, 2025, to request to be appointed as Lead Plaintiff for the class [2] Group 2: Company Background - Cepton is an electronics company focused on high-performance lidar technologies for the Automotive and Smart Infrastructure markets, offering various lidar systems and software [3] - Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd. invested $200 million in Cepton, acquiring 30.1% of voting power and two board seats as of July 2023 [4] Group 3: Merger and Allegations - In July 2024, Cepton accepted Koito's bid to acquire all outstanding capital stock for $3.17 per share, which closed on January 7, 2025 [5] - The lawsuit alleges that Cepton's Board failed to disclose a credible third-party bid valuing the company at more than double the Koito Acquisition price, depriving shareholders of meaningful consideration [5][7] - The Amended Complaint claims that the acquisition price was unreasonable and that the Board concealed critical facts in their communications with shareholders [7]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - The focus is on the **robotaxi** segment within the **China Autos & Shared Mobility** industry, highlighting its rapid expansion and technological advancements [2][10]. Core Insights 1. **Expansion of Robotaxi Services**: Baidu's Apollo Go has launched its robotaxi trial service in Jiangmen, Guangdong, following its earlier debut in Foshan, indicating a significant acceleration in the rollout of robotaxi services across various Chinese cities [2][10]. 2. **Government Support**: The growth trajectory of the robotaxi segment is expected to be driven by supportive government policies and the proactive scaling of robotaxi companies [2][10]. 3. **Strategic Partnerships**: Alibaba's strategic investment in Hello, a new robotaxi company backed by Ant Group, signifies deepening partnerships in the sector, focusing on algorithm platforms and smart-driving AI models [3][10]. 4. **Hardware Supply Contracts**: Hesai has secured a US$40 million order from a leading US robotaxi company, becoming the sole supplier of both long- and short-range lidars, marking a significant achievement for the company [4][10]. 5. **Market Dynamics**: Leading hardware manufacturers like Horizon and Hesai are expected to benefit from accelerating configuration upgrades, while robotaxi makers like WeRide are expanding into new international markets [5][10]. Future Projections - It is anticipated that L4+ robotaxis will account for **8%** of China's total taxi and ride-sharing fleet by **2030**, indicating a strong future for autonomous driving technologies [10]. Risks and Challenges 1. **Regulatory Environment**: Potential regulatory headwinds could impact the rollout of robotaxi services, particularly concerning driverless vehicle regulations in China [13][16]. 2. **Market Competition**: The competitive landscape is intensifying, with rising competition among autonomous driving technology providers and traditional OEMs [11][15]. 3. **Supply Chain Issues**: There are risks related to supply chain disruptions and the success of OEMs' in-house hardware design initiatives, which could affect the availability and pricing of necessary components [15][16]. Conclusion - The robotaxi segment in China is poised for significant growth, supported by technological advancements, strategic partnerships, and favorable government policies. However, stakeholders must navigate regulatory challenges and competitive pressures to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in this rapidly evolving market [10][11].

Core Insights - Hesai Group (NASDAQ:HSAI) is recognized as a leading lidar stock, recently expanding its production agreement with a prominent robotaxi company in the US [1][2] - The new lidar supply deal is valued at over $40 million, with deliveries expected to be completed by the end of 2026, reinforcing Hesai's position in the autonomous vehicle market [2] - Hesai commands approximately 61% of the global L4 autonomous driving lidar market share, positioning the company to benefit from the growing robotaxi market [3] Company Overview - Hesai Group designs and manufactures high-performance lidar sensors for various applications, including autonomous driving, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and robotics [4] - The company integrates in-house manufacturing with research and development to produce high-quality lidar solutions for vehicles, last-mile delivery robots, and industrial robots [4] Market Position - The expanded agreement with the robotaxi firm highlights the confidence in Hesai's technology, which is characterized by performance, reliability, and scalable manufacturing [4] - As the industry transitions from pilot programs to large-scale deployments, Hesai aims to deliver lidar solutions that meet high standards of quality for safe and reliable driverless mobility [4]