Hesai Deepens Nvidia Ties and Targets 4 Million Unit Capacity in Aggressive Expansion Push
Hesai Technology has secured a strategic position in the autonomous driving ecosystem backed by Nvidia Corp. while simultaneously launching a plan to double its annual production capacity to 4 million units in 2026. These developments, disclosed during CES 2026 and through recent corporate updates, underscore the company's move to solidify its dominance in the LiDAR sector amid rising global demand for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS).
According to a company announcement released on January 5, Hesai has been selected as a LiDAR partner for the "NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10" platform. This reference architecture is designed to enable Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving, signaling a significant validation of Hesai’s technology by the leading AI computing chipmaker. The partnership builds on a collaboration dating back to 2019 and aims to facilitate the mass deployment of autonomous vehicle fleets.
Parallel to this technical milestone, data compiled by IPO Early Know indicates that Hesai is aggressively scaling its manufacturing footprint. The company plans to increase its annual production capacity from 2 million units in 2025 to 4 million units in 2026. To support this growth, Hesai is also advancing the construction of a new overseas manufacturing facility in Bangkok, Thailand, which is expected to commence production in early 2027.
The following information is based on official statements from Hesai Technology released during CES 2026 and operational data reported by IPO Early Know. It outlines the technical specifications of the new partnership and the details of the company's manufacturing expansion.
Nvidia Hyperion Collaboration
The integration into the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 platform places Hesai’s hardware at the core of a high-performance sensor ecosystem. The platform utilizes the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture and includes two NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Thor system-on-chips, delivering over 2,000 FP4 TFLOPS of computing power. This architecture allows for real-time fusion of data from cameras, radars, and LiDARs, which is critical for the safety and reliability required by L4 autonomous driving.
Hesai’s ETX LiDAR has been designated for this platform. The ETX is an automotive-grade, ultra-long-range sensor built on Hesai’s fourth-generation chip platform. It features a slim design capable of seamless integration behind windshields or on vehicle roofs. Ali Kani, Vice President of Automotive at Nvidia, stated that the open platform is intended to accelerate the industry's ability to deploy autonomous driving at scale with higher reliability.
Manufacturing Scale and Global Expansion
Underpinning these commercial partnerships is a rapid expansion of manufacturing capabilities. Hesai’s decision to double its capacity to 4 million units in 2026 follows a period of sustained volume growth. In 2025, the company reported a total delivery volume exceeding 1.6 million units. This figure includes approximately 1.4 million units for ADAS applications and over 200,000 units for robotics. The company’s "ATX" product line alone surpassed 1 million units in its first year of delivery.
To support future global demand, Hesai is constructing a new factory in Bangkok, named "Galileo." Slated for production in early 2027, this facility is designed to diversify the company's global supply chain. CEO Li Yifan noted that the expansion is a direct response to the rapid growth of the company's client base, aiming to build a global manufacturing system capable of stable, large-scale delivery.
Operational Efficiency and Milestones
Hesai’s manufacturing efficiency relies on a vertically integrated research and production model. The company utilizes self-developed fourth-generation ASIC chips, which facilitate rapid product iteration and cost-effective scaling. Currently, the company’s automated production lines are capable of rolling out a new LiDAR unit every 10 seconds.
Historically, Hesai claims to be the first technology enterprise in its sector to surpass an annual output of 1 million units and cumulative deliveries of over 2 million units. As of the end of 2025, cumulative deliveries across all product lines exceeded 2.4 million units, with monthly deliveries peaking at over 200,000 units. These metrics reflect the company's transition from a developer of niche technology to a high-volume industrial supplier.