RoboSense, a laser sensor (lidar) maker backed by BYD and Xiaomi, reported on Tuesday shipments of over 20,000 units in August, more than double the nearly 10,000 units it sold in June. The figure highlights the accelerated adoption of self-driving tech by Chinese electric car makers. Specifically, the growth momentum could be attributed to the strong delivery of Xpeng’s G6 vehicles which the EV upstart has touted as having semi-autonomous driving capabilities applicable to Chinese highways and urban settings. Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng told investors on Aug. 18 that the Max version of the G6, equipped with two lidar units sourced from RoboSense, accounted for 70% of total orders since the car’s official launch on June 29, “far” exceeding expectations. Shenzhen-headquartered RoboSense, also a major supplier to Xpeng Motors and Huawei-backed Aito, has provided 14 car models with automotive sensors as of August in China. Lidar uses lightwaves to detect objects and estimate distances, adding more detailed and accurate three-dimensional data to map roadways compared with cameras and radar technology. [RoboSense statement, in Chinese]
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