Hirain and Arbe radar selected for Level 3 vehicle program

Key Takeaways

• Hirain Technologies will supply an imaging radar built around Arbe Robotics’ ultra‑high‑resolution chipset for a Chinese automaker’s Level 3 autonomous‑driving program.
• Series‑production deliveries are slated for Q4 2027, preceding the start of vehicle assembly.
• The radar combines Hirain’s system‑engineering, validation and high‑volume manufacturing with Arbe’s 77 GHz chipset that delivers ≤0.1° angular resolution and >200 m range.
• The partnership extends the two companies’ collaboration from ADAS to full Level 3 automation, positioning the system for multi‑brand deployment across the group’s portfolio.

Overview of the Selection

A major Chinese automotive group has chosen the Hirain‑Arbe imaging radar as the primary sensor for its upcoming Level 3 automated‑driving passenger‑vehicle program. The decision covers several marques within the group, signaling a broad rollout rather than a single‑model pilot. Hirain will handle end‑to‑end responsibilities—design, manufacturing, integration, validation, and quality assurance—while Arbe supplies the core radar chipset that feeds high‑definition data to the vehicle’s central autonomous‑driving controller.

Partnership Expansion

Technical Highlights

• Frequency & Bandwidth: 77 GHz FMCW operation with 4 GHz instantaneous bandwidth.
• Angular Resolution: ≤0.1° (up to 10× finer than conventional 77 GHz radars).
• Detection Range: >200 m for high‑RCS targets; >150 m for low‑RCS pedestrians.
• Field‑of‑View (FoV): 200° horizontal coverage achieved through a stacked‑antenna array.
• Data Rate: Up to 2 Gbps raw radar data, pre‑processed to 200 Mbps for the vehicle’s central computer.
• Environmental Robustness: Operates from –40 °C to +125 °C, meets IP68 sealing standards.

These specifications enable reliable perception of complex urban scenarios—critical for Level 3 functions such as traffic‑jam chauffeur, lane‑keeping with automatic overtaking, and high‑speed highway cruising.

Production Roadmap

• Prototype Validation: Completed Q2 2025, including hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) testing on the automaker’s development vehicle.
• Pilot Production: Limited run of 5,000 units scheduled for 2026 to support pre‑series vehicle builds.
• Series Production: Full‑scale manufacturing to commence Q4 2027, targeting an annual output of 150,000 radar modules for multi‑brand deployment.

Hirain’s established automotive supply chain and Arbe’s proven chipset design reduce risk and accelerate time‑to‑market for the Level 3 program.

How It Stacks Up Against Conventional Radar

The table illustrates the leap in resolution and field coverage that the Hirain‑Arbe system brings to Level 3 applications, reducing reliance on complementary LiDAR or camera arrays.

Implications for Level 3 Automation

The integration of ultra‑high‑resolution radar directly into the vehicle’s perception stack provides several strategic advantages:

1. Redundancy: Radar’s immunity to adverse lighting complements camera‑based systems.
2. Scalability: A single sensor package can serve multiple vehicle models, lowering BOM cost.
3. Regulatory Readiness: ASIL‑D compliance aligns with upcoming Chinese autonomous‑driving safety mandates.

By delivering a sensor that meets both performance and volume‑manufacturing criteria, Hirain and Arbe are positioning the Chinese automaker to meet its planned 2029 market launch for Level 3 vehicles.

Bottom Line

Hirain Technologies and Arbe Robotics have cemented a partnership that delivers an imaging radar capable of the resolution, range, and reliability required