A major Chinese state-owned automaker has selected ultra-high-definition radar technology from Arbe Robotics and Hirain Technologies for a Level 4 autonomous vehicle program, the companies said, underscoring continued investment in advanced perception systems for higher levels of vehicle autonomy.
The program is scheduled to begin production in December 2026, with wider market deployment expected through 2027. The radar solution will be used to support autonomous driving functions in both urban and highway environments, where vehicles are expected to operate without human intervention under defined conditions.
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Under the collaboration, Hirain will supply its LRR610 radar as the primary front-facing sensor, integrating Arbe’s radar chipset. Arbe’s technology uses a 48-transmit and 48-receive radio frequency channel configuration, designed to deliver higher resolution and longer detection ranges than conventional automotive radar systems.
The companies said the radar architecture is intended to support four-dimensional imaging, providing detailed information on distance, velocity, azimuth and elevation. The system includes a dedicated processing chip that generates dense data suitable for artificial intelligence-based perception and decision-making, which is considered critical for Level 4 autonomy.
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China has emerged as a key market for advanced driver-assistance and autonomous driving technologies, supported by large-scale pilot programs and strong backing from both automakers and suppliers. Hirain said the radar system has been developed through several years of joint engineering work to address challenges such as dense traffic, complex urban scenarios and the detection of vulnerable road users.
Arbe said the selection represents progress in scaling its radar technology into higher-volume autonomous vehicle programs, while Hirain will integrate the system across its research, development and manufacturing operations.
The companies plan to demonstrate the radar technology publicly at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where they will showcase its performance in mapping drivable space across varying weather and lighting conditions.