Hesai,??? ?? ???? a Chinese maker of lidar sensors for self-driving cars, said on Thursday it has secured an “exclusive” contract from Changan, with demand for its products from the Ford’s Chinese partner expected to reach 1.5 million units in the next few years. More than 10 vehicles from Changan will come with Hesai’s ATX compact lidar units, which weighs only 500 grams and can sense objects from 300 meters (984 feet), the first model expected to hit the market in the second half of 2025. The ATX lidar sensors will be sold next year for under $200, roughly half the price of its current AT128 model, making it available for the more affordable end of the EV market, for cars that cost no more than RMB 150,000 ($20,000), Hesai chief executive David Li recently told Reuters. [Hesai release, Reuters]