Hesai Group (NASDAQ:HSAI) is among the best lidar stocks to buy according to analysts. The stock has gained more than 30% over the past month and more than 50% over the past 12 months.
At its 2026 Technology Open Day on April 20, Hesai Group – ADR (NASDAQ:HSAI) unveiled its latest generation of lidar technologies. The list included a lidar chip capable of detecting color, representing a breakthrough in the company’s lidar development.
The new ETX lidar series is built on the company’s Picasso chip platform. Hesai said its ETX series lidar offers ultra-long-range detection along with high-resolution perception. As a result, it allows vehicles fitted with it to see farther and capture more detail.
The company said its color-capable lidar delivers industry-leading range and small-object detection capabilities. This lidar chip is built for L3 and above autonomous driving, the company added.
Mass production of the ETX lidar is expected to begin in the second half of 2026. Hesai said its color-capable lidar chip will be adopted in multiple flagship vehicle models. At present, Hesai has secured production design deals with 40 automotive brands covering more than 160 models.
Hesai is China’s top lidar maker. It controlled 40% of the Chinese market share at the end of 2025. It continued to capture more market share in the months that followed, reaching 51% in February 2026. Beyond the automotive segment, Hesai is pursuing growth in other markets like robotics.
On March 24, Hesai announced that it was raising its 2026 lidar shipments to between 3 million and 3.5 million units. The company guided its Q1 2026 revenue in the band of $93 million to $100 million, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 24% – 33%.
Hesai Group (NASDAQ:HSAI) develops and manufactures 3D lidar sensors for a variety of applications. The company is known for its high-performance and cost-effective sensors. Hesai Group’s lidar products and sensors are used in autonomous vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and industrial robotics.
While we acknowledge the risk and potential of HSAI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than HSAI and that has 10,000% upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 10 Best Cryptocurrency Stocks to Buy Right Now and Goldman Sachs Bank Stocks: Top 10 Stocks to Buy.
Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.