Technology innovation

Automotive Supplier Announces Lidar Integration for Production EV Models

ApexDrive Systems to Integrate Solid-State LiDAR Across 2026 Electric Vehicle Line, Targets 30% ADAS Safety Improvement

Detroit, December 2, 2025 – ApexDrive Systems, the Troy, Michigan-based Tier-1 automotive supplier, announced today that it will begin series production of a compact, roof-line solid-state LiDAR module on two all-electric platforms scheduled to roll off U.S. and EU assembly lines in the first quarter of 2026. The agreement with Hesai Technology covers more than 180,000 units over five years and positions ApexDrive as one of the first American suppliers to standardize LiDAR on non-luxury battery-electric models.

According to the latest data from Automotive World, China’s on-the-road LiDAR installations surpassed 1.5 million units in 2024, more than double 2023 volume, underscoring the rapid shift from optional sensor to core production hardware.

ApexDrive’s program is the first stateside mirror of that scale, bringing Asian-validated volumes to North American EV manufacturing.

The Hesai ATX sensor selected for the program measures 60% smaller than previous automotive LiDARs while delivering 0.1-degree angular resolution and a 200-meter range, enabling Highway Pilot and curb-to-curb automated parking on vehicles that will start under $45,000 MSRP. ApexDrive engineers optimized the module’s thermal envelope so it can be laminated directly into a panoramic glass roof, eliminating the traditional “dome” protrusion that has hindered mainstream adoption.

“Affordable electrification must include affordable autonomy,” said Dana Whitaker, president & CEO of ApexDrive Systems. “By pairing Hesai’s proven solid-state architecture with our high-volume interior integration expertise, we are delivering Level-2+ safety to everyday drivers without a four-figure option package.”

Market research firm ArchiveMarketResearch.com projects the EV-specific LiDAR segment to record a 38% compound annual growth rate through 2030, driven by tightening five-star NCAP ratings and the forthcoming U.S. Advanced Driver Assistance credit that will subsidize qualifying sensor suites beginning in model-year 2027.

ApexDrive expects the new LiDAR program to add $120 million in revenue by 2028 and to open additional contracts with two other OEMs currently reviewing the supplier’s safety-in-numbers white paper released last month.

All 2026 ApexDrive-equipped vehicles will ship with over-the-air software hooks for Level-3 conditional automation, allowing customers to unlock enhanced features when federal regulations permit. The supplier’s validation fleet has already logged 1.4 million miles across Michigan, Arizona, and Sweden, collecting data that will train a fused-perception stack combining LiDAR, 8-MP cameras, and 4-D imaging radar. Early track tests show a 30% reduction in false-positive emergency braking versus camera-only systems and a 25% improvement in pedestrian detection at night.

Initial production will take place at ApexDrive’s existing electronics plant in Troy, with Hesai shipping semi-knocked-down kits from its Shanghai mega-factory that reached a 2-million-unit annual capacity this year.

The localized assembly strategy avoids 7.5% U.S.-China tariffs, keeps average unit cost under $550, and supports 200 new engineering and manufacturing jobs in Southeast Michigan.

About ApexDrive Systems

ApexDrive Systems is a Tier-1 automotive supplier specializing in electrified drivelines, ADAS modules, and integrated sensor packages. The company operates six technical centers and four production facilities across North America and Europe, delivering more than 2.3 million sub-assemblies annually to global OEMs.