From its early roots to 2026: the Hesai Group story

Hesai was founded in China in 2014 by three co-founders and initially worked on laser-based gas-detection technology before applying its optical engineering to lidar.

How Hesai Group developed

It demonstrated its first high-performance lidar in 2016, opened in-house manufacturing in 2017 and developed successive sensors for autonomous vehicles and robotics. Hesai listed on Nasdaq in 2023.

Hesai Group in 2026

By 2026, Hesai designed and manufactured lidar sensors for advanced driver-assistance systems, autonomous mobility and robotics at increasing production scale.

Why the history matters

Hesai’s transition from sensing research to mass-produced automotive lidar illustrates how autonomy depends on manufacturing cost, reliability and supply-chain scale as much as on laboratory performance.

This profile was checked against company disclosures, regulatory filings and reputable independent or industry sources where applicable. Information reflects public material available on 18 September 2026.