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Luminar sale approved despite last-minute mystery bid
TechCrunch· 2026-01-28 20:41
Core Insights - Luminar's lidar business faced a last-minute bid that exceeded the leading offer of $33 million from MicroVision, but Luminar chose to proceed with MicroVision's bid due to "infirmities" in the new offer [1][2] Group 1: Sale Process and Bids - An unidentified party submitted a bid just before a bankruptcy hearing, which was significantly higher than the $33 million bid from MicroVision [1] - Luminar's legal counsel indicated that the last-minute bid had issues, leading the company to stick with MicroVision's offer [2] - The identity of the last-minute bidder was not disclosed, but it was suggested to be an "insider purchaser," likely Austin Russell, Luminar's founder [2][3] Group 2: MicroVision's Acquisition - The sale of Luminar's lidar technology and remaining staff to MicroVision was approved, with the transaction expected to close in the coming weeks [3][6] - MicroVision aims to leverage Luminar's lidar technology to enhance its automotive capabilities, which it currently lacks [6][8] - MicroVision's CEO expressed optimism about reviving Luminar's existing contracts with automakers, viewing them as potential revenue opportunities [9][10] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - MicroVision is positioned to expand beyond its current markets of industrial use, security, and defense by integrating Luminar's technology [8] - The acquisition is seen as a strategic move to enhance MicroVision's engineering capabilities and competitiveness in the automotive sector [9]
Luminar founder Austin Russell agrees to accept subpoena in bankruptcy case
TechCrunch· 2026-01-20 21:32
Core Insights - Luminar's founder and former CEO Austin Russell has agreed to accept an electronic subpoena for information related to the company's ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, with specific timelines for compliance outlined in a recent filing [1][2] Group 1: Legal Proceedings - Russell had previously been accused of avoiding the subpoena by not allowing process servers access to his Florida mansion, and he expressed concerns about the protection of his personal information [2] - The two parties have reached an agreement to clarify how Russell's personal information will be handled during the subpoena process [2] - Luminar has been seeking information from Russell since his resignation, as it considers potential legal action against him [6] Group 2: Bankruptcy and Asset Sales - Luminar filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December after losing significant contracts with major customers such as Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, alongside increasing competition from Chinese lidar companies [3] - The company has reached a deal to sell its lidar assets to Quantum Computing Inc. for $22 million and is also attempting to sell its semiconductor division for $110 million [4] - An auction is scheduled for the end of the month to solicit bids that may exceed QCI's offer [4] Group 3: Russell's Interest in Luminar - Russell attempted to buy Luminar in October, following his resignation due to an ethics inquiry, but before the bankruptcy filing [5] - His new venture, Russell AI Labs, has indicated interest in submitting a bid for Luminar's lidar assets, although no formal offer has been made yet [5]
Hesai Gains As Nvidia Selects Its Lidar For Self-Driving Stack
Benzinga· 2026-01-06 17:30
Core Insights - Hesai Technology has been selected by NVIDIA as a lidar partner for the DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 platform, which is aimed at accelerating the development of Level 4-capable vehicles [1][2]. Group 1: Partnership and Technology - Hesai's lidar technology will be integrated into an open, production-oriented architecture that automakers and developers can utilize to create and validate autonomy-ready systems [2]. - The Hyperion 10 platform combines various sensing modalities, including cameras, radar, lidar, and ultrasonic sensors, into a unified setup for enhanced perception and safety development [2][3]. - NVIDIA's platform is powered by two DRIVE AGX Thor systems-on-a-chip, delivering over 2,000 FP4 teraflops of processing power for real-time, 360-degree sensor fusion [3]. Group 2: Product Features and Applications - Hesai will support the Hyperion 10 platform with its ETX ultra-long-range lidar, designed for Level 3 and Level 4 applications, featuring high resolution and options for clean vehicle integration [3]. - The company is also expanding into new sensing use cases, including 3D motion capture technology, indicating a broader focus on spatial data and real-time perception beyond the automotive sector [4]. Group 3: Market Performance - Hesai's stock was trading higher by 1.67% at $27.08 at the time of publication, reflecting positive market sentiment following the announcement [4].
Lidar Stock Soars 33% After Nvidia Taps Supplier
Barrons· 2026-01-06 15:24
Aeva Technologies was selected as a lidar supplier for Nvidia's autonomous-vehicle platform. ...
Rivian's autonomy chief says lidar is 'very affordable' and a 'no-brainer' decision
Business Insider· 2025-12-14 04:45
Core Insights - Rivian's decision to incorporate lidar technology in its upcoming R2 SUV is driven by significant cost reductions in lidar sensors, making them feasible for mass-production vehicles [1][4] - The integration of lidar is expected to enhance the robustness of Rivian's autonomous driving system, allowing the company to achieve its self-driving goals more rapidly [4] - Rivian's approach contrasts with Tesla's strategy, which relies solely on camera-based systems for self-driving capabilities [4][5] Cost and Technology - Lidar technology has seen a dramatic decrease in price over the past decade, from five-figure costs to a few hundred dollars for similar units today [2][5] - Rivian plans to launch the R2 without lidar in early 2026, with a starting price of $45,000, and aims to introduce a lidar-equipped version by late 2026 [6] Industry Context - Lidar is increasingly recognized in the automotive sector, particularly for its role in enhancing safety in autonomous vehicles, as demonstrated by companies like Waymo [3] - Rivian's VP of autonomy, James Philbin, emphasizes the importance of using multiple sensors for safety-critical applications, positioning lidar as a valuable addition to the company's technology stack [4]
Top Wall Street Forecasters Revamp Li Auto Expectations Ahead Of Q3 Earnings - Hesai Gr (NASDAQ:HSAI), Li Auto (NASDAQ:LI)
Benzinga· 2025-11-26 06:00
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 ...
Top Wall Street Forecasters Revamp Li Auto Expectations Ahead Of Q3 Earnings
Benzinga· 2025-11-26 06:00
Core Insights - Li Auto Inc. is set to release its third-quarter earnings results on November 26, with analysts predicting earnings of 4 cents per share and revenue of $3.76 billion [1] Group 1: Company Developments - Hesai Technology has been named the exclusive lidar supplier for Li Auto's next-generation assisted driving platform, which includes all upcoming models such as the "L" Series, "i" Series, and "MEGA," indicating a significant expansion of their collaboration [2] - Li Auto's shares increased by 1.1%, closing at $18.32 on the day of the announcement regarding the lidar supply agreement [2] Group 2: Analyst Ratings - Piper Sandler analyst Alexander Potter initiated coverage on Li Auto with a Neutral rating and a price target of $19, reflecting an accuracy rate of 77% [5] - Barclays analyst Jiong Shao maintained an Equal-Weight rating but reduced the price target from $31 to $24, with an accuracy rate of 70% [5]
Hesai Secures Exclusive Lidar Design Wins for Li Auto's New-Generation Assisted Driving Platform
Prnewswire· 2025-11-11 11:00
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]
IBD 50 Stocks To Watch: AI Leader Ouster Rebounds From Key Support But Earnings Loom
Investors· 2025-10-30 17:30
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]
Hesai Group to Report Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results on Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Globenewswire· 2025-10-24 08:30
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].