Quarterly net revenues were RMB429.9 million (US$62.6 million)1, an increase of 73.0% year-over-year
Quarterly LiDAR shipments were 34,8342 units, an increase of 402.9% year-over-year

SHANGHAI, China, May 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hesai Group (“Hesai” or the “Company”), (NASDAQ: HSAI), the global leader in three-dimensional light detection and ranging (LiDAR) solutions, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

Operational Highlights

 Q1 2023
  
ADAS LiDAR shipments28,195
Autonomous Mobility LiDAR shipments6,639
Total LiDAR shipments34,834


Management Remarks

“We are pleased to deliver the strongest quarterly financial performance in our history, with record net revenues along with non-GAAP3 profitability and positive operating cash flow. This quarter, we not only released our groundbreaking, ultra-thin in-cabin LiDAR ET25, but also entered into new partnerships, broadened existing relationships with OEM customers on multi-year ADAS contracts and signed our largest Robotaxi LiDAR contract in the Company’s history,” Yifan “David” Li, Hesai's Co-Founder and CEO, commented. “2023 will be a transformational year as we see increased interest from and collaboration with leading North American and European OEMs. Though we still made a GAAP net loss this quarter, looking ahead, we will continue leveraging our strong in-house manufacturing capabilities and proprietary ASIC platform to build high-quality, affordable LiDARs that bring a higher level of safety to the future of intelligent driving systems.”

Louis T. Hsieh, Hesai’s Global CFO, added, “Our quarterly performance clearly demonstrates our continued rapid growth trajectory, with net revenues of RMB429.9 million (US$62.6 million), an increase of 73.0% year-over-year and an increase of 5.1% quarter-over-quarter, a new record high. Product revenues grew even faster increasing 77.7% year-over-year and increasing 4.9% quarter-over-quarter to RMB424.1 million (US$61.8 million). Our industry leading gross margin also grew to 37.8%, up 780 basis points quarter-over-quarter but down 1309 basis points year-over-year. With our unrelenting efforts in improving revenue scalability and cost efficiency, we turned profitable this quarter by recording non-GAAP net income and positive operating cash flow. LiDAR deliveries for the quarter soared by five times year-over-year to over 34,800 units, bringing our cumulative shipments to over 135,000 units. Although we typically experience slower demand in the first half of the year due to seasonal factors including the Chinese New Year holiday, we anticipate accelerating demand for our Autonomous Mobility and ADAS products tracking approximately 40% higher quarter-over-quarter in unit volume for the second quarter 2023 which would be a record high quarterly LiDAR volume for Hesai. This strong order momentum firmly demonstrates our global leadership position in both the ADAS and Autonomous Mobility LiDAR markets. We continue to outpace the competition easily delivering higher quarterly revenues and LiDAR shipments than our six other US-listed LiDAR peers COMBINED!”

Business Developments

Financial Highlights for the First Quarter of 2023
(in RMB millions, except for per ordinary share data and percentage)

 Q1 2023 Q1 2022 % Change
    
Net revenues429.9 248.4 73.0%
Gross margin37.8% 50.9%  
Loss from operations(128.0) (41.7) 207.3%
Non-GAAP loss from operations(7.5) (14.5) -48.1%
Net loss(118.9) (25.1) 374.1%
Non-GAAP net income1.6 2.1 -24.1%
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders(118.9) (61.7) 92.6%
Net loss per ordinary share-basic and diluted(0.98) (0.53) 83.6%
Non-GAAP net income per ordinary share – basic and diluted0.01 0.02 -27.6%


*The Company recognized share-based compensation expenses of RMB120.5 million (US$17.5 million) for the first quarter 2023, representing an increase of 343.8% from RMB27.2 million (US$4.0 million) for the same period of 2022. The increase in share-based compensation expenses was mainly attributable to the recognition of one-off expenses of RMB90.9 million (US$13.2 million) upon the completion of the Company’s successful IPO in the first quarter in relation to the employee stock options granted with an IPO trigger condition.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of 2023, the Company expects net revenues to be between RMB410 million (US$59.7 million) and RMB430 million (US$62.6 million), representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 94.3% to 103.8%.

The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects the Company’s preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions, and customer demand, which are all subject to change.

Conference Call

The Company’s management will host an earnings conference call at 9:00 PM U.S. Eastern Time on May 23, 2023 (9:00 AM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on May 24, 2023).

For participants who wish to join the call by phone, please access the link provided below to complete the pre-registration process and dial in 5 minutes prior to the scheduled call start time. Upon registration, each participant will receive dial-in details to join the conference call.

Event Title:Hesai Group First Quarter 2023 Earnings Conference Call
Pre-registration Link:https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10030374-jl12jm.html


Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company’s investor relations website at https://investor.hesaitech.com.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately an hour after the conclusion of the call until May 31, 2023, by dialing the following telephone numbers:

United States:+1-855-883-1031
International:+61-7-3107-6325
Hong Kong, China:800-930-639
China Mainland:400-120-9216
Replay PIN:10030374


About Hesai

Hesai is the global leader in three-dimensional light detection and ranging (LiDAR) solutions. The Company’s LiDAR products enable a broad spectrum of applications across passenger and commercial vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicle fleets (autonomous mobility). Hesai's technology also empowers robotics applications such as last-mile delivery robots and logistics robots in restricted areas. The Company’s commercially validated solutions are backed by superior research and development capabilities across optics, mechanics, electronics, and software. Hesai integrates LiDAR designs with an in-house manufacturing process, facilitating rapid product development while ensuring high performance, consistent quality and affordability. Hesai has established strong relationships with leading automotive OEMs, autonomous vehicle, and robotics companies worldwide, covering over 90 cities in 40 countries as of December 31, 2022.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Hesai's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, Hesai uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: loss from operation excluding share-based compensation expenses, net income excluding share-based compensation expenses, net income attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation and deemed dividend, and per ordinary share net income attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation and deemed dividend. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Unaudited Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP Results" set forth at the end of this release.

Hesai believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses and deemed dividend that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. Hesai believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to Hesai's historical performance and liquidity. Hesai believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP measures is that they exclude share-based compensation expenses and deemed dividend that has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars and from U.S. dollars to RMB are made at a rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on March 31, 2023, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board. The Company makes no representation that the RMB or U.S. dollars amounts referred could be converted into U.S. dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at any particular rate or at all.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as the Company’s strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; expected changes in the Company’s revenues, costs or expenditures; the trends in, expected growth and the market size of the ADAS, autonomous mobility and robotics industries; the market for and adoption of LiDAR and related technology; the Company’s ability to produce high-quality products with wide market acceptance; the success of the Company’s customers in developing and commercializing products using its solutions, and the market acceptance of those products; the Company’s ability to introduce new products that meet its customers’ requirement; the Company’s expectations regarding the effectiveness of its marketing initiatives and the relationship with its third-party partners; competition in the Company’s industry; the Company’s ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company’s industry; the Company’s ability to protect its systems and infrastructures from cyber-attacks; general economic and business conditions globally and in China; and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:
Hesai Group
Yuanting “YT” Shi, Investor Relations Director
Email: ir@hesaitech.com

Piacente Financial Communications
Jenny Cai
Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677
Email: hesai@tpg-ir.com

In the United States:
Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Email: hesai@tpg-ir.com

Source: Hesai Group


HESAI GROUP

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data and otherwise noted)
 
 As of
 December 31,
2022
 March 31,
2023
 RMBRMBUS$
    
ASSETS   
Current assets:   
Cash and cash equivalents913,277  2,096,031  305,206 
Short-term investments945,866  1,045,380  152,219 
Accounts receivable484,586  361,921  52,700 
Contract assets13,058  -  - 
Amounts due from related parties5,021  4,995  727 
Inventories646,852  634,652  92,412 
Prepayments and other current assets126,452  114,761  16,711 
Total current assets3,135,111  4,257,740  619,975 
Non-current assets:   
Property and equipment, net504,953  565,890  82,400 
Long-term investments31,856  31,845  4,637 
Intangible assets, net20,600  20,598  2,999 
Land-use rights, net41,606  41,391  6,027 
Goodwill3,823  3,772  549 
Right-of-use assets44,349  36,110  5,258 
Other non-current assets57,098  137,778  20,062 
Total non-current assets704,285  837,384  121,932 
TOTAL ASSETS3,839,396  5,095,124  741,907 
LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT   
Current liabilities:   
Short-term borrowings-  109,900  16,003 
Note payable-  12,000  1,747 
Accounts payable206,681  155,842  22,692 
Contract liabilities40,378  49,836  7,257 
Amounts due to related parties334,283  330,066  48,061 
Accrued warranty liability17,694  18,233  2,655 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities356,502  233,647  34,021 
Total current liabilities955,538  909,524  132,436 
Non-current liabilities   
Long-term borrowings18,472  110,451  16,083 
Deferred tax liabilities439  415  60 
Lease liabilities10,139  6,851  998 
Other non-current liabilities13,075  14,706  2,141 
Total non-current liabilities42,125  132,423  19,282 
TOTAL LIABILITIES997,663  1,041,947  151,718 


Mezzanine equity:		   
Redeemable shares5,986,910  -  - 
    
Shareholders’ Deficit   
Class A Ordinary shares19  19  3 
Class B Ordinary shares20  62  9 
Additional paid-in capital-  7,304,273  1,063,585 
Subscription receivables(310,227) (310,227) (45,173)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(3,608) 9,340  1,360 
Accumulated deficit(2,831,381) (2,950,290) (429,595)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT(3,145,177) 4,053,177  590,189 
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT3,839,396  5,095,124  741,907 
         


HESAI GROUP

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data and otherwise noted)
   
  Three months ended March 31,
  2022 2023
  RMBRMBUS$
     
Net revenues  248,447   429,930  62,603 
Cost of revenues (121,953) (267,304) (38,922)
Gross profit  126,494  162,626  23,680 
Operating expenses:    
Sales and marketing expenses (19,312) (35,363) (5,149)
General and administrative expenses (44,727) (49,544) (7,214)
Research and development expenses (104,672) (208,496) (30,360)
Other operating income, net 564  2,771  404 
Total operating expenses (168,147) (290,632) (42,320)
Loss from operations (41,653) (128,006) (18,639)
Interest income 17,418  15,673  2,282 
Foreign exchange loss, net (677) (6,415) (934)
Other loss, net (162) (167) (24)
Net loss before income tax and share of loss in equity method investments (25,074) (118,915) (17,315)
Income tax benefit 11  17  2 
Share of loss in equity method investment (11) (11) (2)
Net loss (25,074) (118,909) (17,315)
Deemed dividend (36,670) -  - 
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company (61,744) (118,909 ) (17,315 )
Net loss per share:    
Basic and diluted (0.53) (0.98) (0.14)
Weighted average ordinary shares used in calculating net loss per share:    
Basic and diluted 115,534,593  121,175,064  121,175,064 
Net loss (25,074) (118,909) (17,315)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax of nil:    
Foreign currency translation adjustments 344  12,948  1,885 
Comprehensive loss, net of tax of nil (24,730) (105,961) (15,430)
          


HESAI GROUP

UNAUDITED RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS
(All amounts in thousands, except share and per share data and otherwise noted)


 For the three months ended March 31,
 2022 2023
 RMBRMBUS$
    
Loss from operations(41,653) (128,006) (18,639)
Add: Share-based compensation expenses27,145  120,481  17,543 
Non-GAAP loss from operations(14,508) (7,525) (1,096)
    
Net loss(25,074) (118,909) (17,315)
Add: Share-based compensation expenses27,145  120,481  17,543 
Non-GAAP net income2,071  1,572  228 
    
Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company(61,744) (118,909) (17,315)
Add: Share-based compensation expenses27,145  120,481  17,543 
Add: Deemed dividend36,670  -  - 
Non-GAAP net income attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company2,071  1,572  228 
    
Loss per share: Basic and diluted(0.53) (0.98) (0.14)
Add: Share-based compensation expenses0.23  0.99  0.14 
Add: Deemed dividend0.32  -  - 
Non-GAAP net income per ordinary share – basic and diluted0.02  0.01  0.00 
    

_______________

1 All translations from RMB to USD for the first quarter of 2023 were made at the exchange rate of RMB6.8676 to US$1.00, the exchange rate on March 31, 2023, set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Federal Reserve Board.
2 Hesai started volume shipments of ADAS LiDAR in July 2022.
3 See “Use of Non-GAAP measures” and “Unaudited reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP results” included in this release for further details.