RoboSense
{{Short description|Chinese lidar company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = RoboSense Technology Co., Ltd
| trading_name =
| native_name = 速腾聚创科技有限公司
| logo = RoboSense Logo.png
| image =
| image_caption =
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{HKEX|2498}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|2014|08}}
| industry = Lidar
| location = Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| founders = {{UBL|Qiu Chunxin|Zhu Xiaorui|Liu Letian}}
| key_people = {{UBL|Qiu Chunxin (Chairman)|Qiu Chunchao (CEO)}}
| products =
| revenue = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|1.12 billion}} (2023)
| net_income = {{Decrease}} {{CNY|link=yes|-4.33 billion}} (2023)
| assets = {{Decrease}} {{CNY|link=yes|3.27 billion}} (2023)
| equity = {{Decrease}} {{CNY|link=yes|-9.07 billion}} (2023)
| num_employees = 1,324 (2023)
| homepage = {{Official URL}}
}}
RoboSense Technology Co., Ltd (RoboSense; {{Lang-zh|c=|p=Sùténg Jùchuàng|s=速腾聚创}}) is a publicly listed Chinese technology company that engages in the development and sales of lidar products such as sensors. Its products are used mainly in the ADAS, vehicular automation, robotics and industrial sectors.
History
After finishing his PhD on outdoor robotics perception at Harbin Institute of Technology, Qiu Chunxin founded RoboSense in 2014. Qiu asked his PhD supervisor Zhu Xiaorui and PhD peer Liu Letian to join his team as chief scientist and chief technology officer respectively.{{Cite web |last= |date=26 September 2017 |title=Shenzhen Based RoboSense is the Next DJI for LIDAR |url=https://syncedreview.com/2017/09/26/shenzhen-based-robosense-is-the-next-dji-for-lidar/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=syncedreview.com |language=en-US |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204012824/https://syncedreview.com/2017/09/26/shenzhen-based-robosense-is-the-next-dji-for-lidar/ |url-status=live }}
Investors of RoboSense have included over 30 institutional investors such as Cainiao, BYD and Xiaomi.{{Cite web |last=Qian |first=Yiru |date=6 January 2024 |title=Shenzhen's 2024 First IPO: RoboSense Debuts in Hong Kong, Valued Near HKD 20 Billion |url=https://equalocean.com/news/2024010620424 |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=EqualOcean |language=en |archive-date=10 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810191404/https://equalocean.com/news/2024010620424 |url-status=live }}
RoboSense started out making scanners for the construction and interior design industries, releasing its first static 3D laser scanner in 2015.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Shih Ta |date=12 December 2023 |title=RoboSense steers tricky course in self-drive tech market |url=https://thebambooworks.com/will-listing-be-the-game-changer-for-robosense-amid-fierce-competition-and-limited-pricing-power/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=Bamboo Works |language=en-GB |archive-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913142754/https://thebambooworks.com/will-listing-be-the-game-changer-for-robosense-amid-fierce-competition-and-limited-pricing-power/ |url-status=live }}
With the rise of Tesla, Inc. and autonomous driving, RoboSense soon switched its focus to vehicle sensors. In 2016, RoboSense launched its automotive-grade lidars and became one of the first mass producers of solid-state lidars where the sensors are fixed rather than rotating. RoboSense has also made progress in the MEMS lidar field for driver assistance functions.{{Cite web |last=Lu |first=Misha |date=16 February 2024 |title=Pentagon-sanctioned Chinese LiDAR supplier focuses on chip design amid increased shipment |url=https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20240215VL209/china-automotive-ic-hesai-lidar.html |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=DIGITIMES |language=en |archive-date=28 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228173203/https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20240215VL209/china-automotive-ic-hesai-lidar.html |url-status=live }}
RoboSense also expanded into developing lidar hardware for other industries including robotics and AI-based detection software.
On 5 January 2024, RoboSense held its initial public offering (IPO) becoming a listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The offering raised HK$990 million and with a valuation of HK$19.3 billion, RoboSense was the world's highest valued lidar company at the time. On its trading debut, its shares dropped 2.09% in the morning. Investors questioned whether costly lidar sensor technology would be widely adopted by makers of self-driving cars.{{Cite web |last=Zhou |first=Cissy |date=5 January 2024 |title=Alibaba-backed lidar maker RoboSense dips in Hong Kong debut |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Alibaba-backed-lidar-maker-RoboSense-dips-in-Hong-Kong-debut |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en |archive-date=24 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124132520/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Alibaba-backed-lidar-maker-RoboSense-dips-in-Hong-Kong-debut |url-status=live }}
In early 2024, it was reported that RoboSense was the world's biggest supplier of automotive lidars.
RoboSense was present at CES 2025 to demonstrate its products to the US market. Qiu who was at the event stated that product quality was more important than geopolitical tensions.{{Cite web |last=Zhou |first=Cissy |date=9 January 2025 |title=Chinese auto suppliers eye U.S. production growth in Trump 2.0 |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Chinese-auto-suppliers-eye-U.S.-production-growth-in-Trump-2.0 |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=Nikkei Asia |language=en |archive-date=26 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126063324/https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Chinese-auto-suppliers-eye-U.S.-production-growth-in-Trump-2.0 |url-status=live }}
RoboSense has been compared to Hesai Technology and is considered its main rival in China.{{Cite web |last=Howarth |first=Samuel |date=11 January 2024 |title=Hesai and RoboSense race for LiDar supremacy |url=https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20240109PD208/ev-huawei-ipo-lidar-mobility-seyond.html |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=DIGITIMES |language=en |archive-date=23 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723145603/https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20240109PD208/ev-huawei-ipo-lidar-mobility-seyond.html |url-status=live }}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Electronics industry in China}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2014 establishments in China
Category:2024 initial public offerings
Category:Companies based in Shenzhen