China's first batch of L3 LiDARs have arrived! Hesai FTX secures定点for the next-generation platform model from Changan

Today, Hesai Group (NASDAQ: HSAI; HKEX: 2525), the global leader in LiDAR technology, announced that its second-generation solid-state blind-spot LiDAR, FTX, has successfully secured a production定点for the next-generation intelligent L3 platform model from Changan Automobile. This collaboration marks the official entry of core L3 autonomous driving perception technology into the large-scale popularization phase, with both parties set to jointly promote the implementation of advanced intelligent driving systems in mass-production models.

Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology officially announced China’s first batch of type-approval permits for L3 conditional autonomous driving vehicles. Two models, designed for urban congestion and highway scenarios respectively, will conduct road pilot programs in designated areas of Beijing and Chongqing. This marks a key step for China’s L3 autonomous driving moving from testing to commercial application, with one of the models being Deep Blue Automobile under Changan Automobile.

The acquisition of the first batch of L3 type-approval permits represents a comprehensive test of companies' technical safety, adaptability to complex road conditions, full-stack self-research capabilities, and continuous R&D strength. Changan Automobile’s success stems from its deep accumulation of intelligent technology and forward-looking layout, with its core being the intelligent technology system — TianShu Intelligence. TianShu Intelligence builds a safety barrier across three core domains: driving assistance, cockpit, and chassis, providing users with an ultimate smart mobility safety solution.

Safety value knows no upper limit, and LiDAR has become a core safety component for assisted driving. The resolution of Hesai FTX is more than double that of the previous generation, while its volume has been significantly optimized and weight reduced by 66% compared to the last generation, greatly lowering vehicle integration difficulty and manufacturing costs. Additionally, FTX’s maximum ultra-wide field of view of 180° x 140° allows precise detection of low obstacles such as road markers and pets, forming a multi-LiDAR coordination solution with long-range primary LiDARs, focusing on enhancing environmental perception capabilities in key L3 scenarios like narrow-road passage, automated parking, and intersection turning.

Hesai Group and Changan Automobile officially established a cooperative partnership in 2022. The AT series of high-performance long-range LiDAR will fully empower multiple brands and models under Changan, including Deep Blue and Qiyuan, jointly witnessing the continuous surge in sales of Changan's new energy vehicles. Hesai will also closely collaborate with Changan Automobile to promote the widespread adoption of advanced intelligent driving functions, making the convenience and safety of smart mobility accessible to more users.

According to media reports, the L3 architecture models announced by leading automakers allcome standard with multiple LiDAR units, with each L3-level vehicle equipped with 3 to 6 LiDAR units. From optional to standard, from single-unit to multi-unit integration, the stringent requirements of L3 autonomous driving for the reliability and safety redundancy of perception systems are pushing LiDAR into the position of a 'core safety component.'

Hesai’s FTX program is set to commence large-scale mass production and delivery in 2026, helping China's automotive industry achieve the large-scale commercialization of L3 autonomous driving ahead of others, and driving the transformation of intelligent vehicles from 'high-end options' to 'standard equipment for the masses.'

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