China's L4 Push Taps Israeli Radar in Major Autonomous Vehicle Deal

TEL AVIV, Israel – December 29, 2025 – In a significant move that underscores the global race for autonomous vehicle supremacy, a major state-owned Chinese automaker has selected advanced Israeli radar technology for its upcoming Level 4 (L4) autonomous vehicle program. The deal, announced today, pairs the ultra-high-resolution perception radar from Tel Aviv-based Arbe Robotics with the system integration expertise of Chinese Tier-1 supplier Hirain Technologies.

This partnership will see Hirain's LRR610 Radar, powered by Arbe's chipset, installed as the front-facing sensor on a new line of L4 vehicles. The automaker plans to begin series production in December 2026, with an ambitious goal of releasing thousands of these highly autonomous vehicles onto the market throughout 2027. The selection marks a critical commercial victory for Arbe and a powerful endorsement of 4D imaging radar as an essential component for achieving high-level autonomy in complex, real-world driving conditions.

A Strategic Sino-Israeli Synergy

The collaboration is a prime example of the international partnerships shaping the future of mobility. Arbe Robotics, a leader in the niche but growing field of perception radar, provides the core chipset technology. This is then integrated into a complete automotive-grade sensor system by Hirain Technologies, a formidable Tier-1 supplier with deep roots in the Chinese market. Founded in 2003, Hirain has established itself as a world-class provider of automotive electronics and intelligent driving solutions, boasting full-stack R&D capabilities and a strong focus on aligning with China's domestic chip ecosystem.

For Arbe, partnering with an established player like Hirain provides a crucial pathway into China's highly competitive and rapidly expanding automotive sector. The Chinese market is not just large; it is at the forefront of the global transition to electric and autonomous vehicles. "China is a highly strategic market, one that is advancing rapidly toward autonomous driving," said Kobi Marenko, CEO of Arbe. "We are pleased to see this momentum and meaningful progress in the region. Hirain is an exceptional partner, highly innovative and consistently quick to translate evolving market needs into advanced, customer-ready solutions."

This deal, which comes after several years of joint development between the two companies, highlights a successful model for technology integration. It leverages Israeli innovation in deep-tech hardware and marries it with Chinese engineering, manufacturing scale, and market access.

The Technological Leap to L4 Autonomy

The selection of Arbe's technology is not merely a supply chain decision; it reflects a fundamental shift in the sensor requirements for L4 autonomy. Level 4 vehicles, which can operate without human intervention under specific conditions, require a perception system that is exceptionally reliable, detailed, and robust across all environments. Traditional automotive radar often struggles with low resolution, making it difficult to distinguish between multiple objects or reliably detect stationary hazards—a critical failing for a self-driving car.

Arbe's solution aims to solve this by creating what it calls a "radar revolution." Its proprietary chipset boasts an industry-leading 48 receiving and 48 transmitting channels, creating a massive data pipeline that generates a high-resolution, four-dimensional image of the environment. This 4D map includes range, azimuth, elevation, and Doppler (velocity), providing a detailed point cloud that Arbe claims is up to 100 times more detailed than other radar systems. This richness of data allows for advanced AI-based processing to accurately map drivable paths, identify vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists, and perceive the world in challenging weather and lighting conditions where cameras and even Lidar can fail.

"Level 4 autonomous vehicles require the highest standards on radar resolution, accuracy, and reliability," explained Chengjian Fan, CTO of Hirain Technologies. "By leveraging Arbe's high-resolution radar chipset, we are able to deliver the highly detailed and accurate sensing capabilities required for complex urban environments and the long-range detection in high resolution needed for driving at high speed on the highway."

Navigating China's Ambitious AV Landscape

This deal is set against the backdrop of China's immense national ambition to lead the world in intelligent and new energy vehicles, a key pillar of its "Made in China 2025" industrial strategy. The Chinese government has aggressively fostered a supportive ecosystem, with over 32,000 kilometers of public roads opened for autonomous vehicle testing and pilot programs for smart, connected infrastructure rolling out in major cities. This state-level backing creates a fertile ground for companies developing L4 technologies.

However, the path to deployment is also governed by increasingly strict regulations. In response to safety concerns, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has tightened oversight on everything from market access to software updates. Automakers are now held to a higher standard of accountability for system reliability and are prohibited from using misleading marketing terms like "full self-driving." The selection of an advanced sensor suite like Arbe's can be seen as a direct response to this dual-track environment, where rapid innovation must be balanced with demonstrable safety and reliability.

By equipping its vehicles with a sensor capable of providing a detailed, all-weather perception layer, the unnamed state-owned automaker is positioning its L4 program to meet these stringent safety requirements while pursuing its ambitious deployment goals.

Market Impact and the Road Ahead

The financial and market implications of the deal are significant for Arbe Robotics. While the company has demonstrated impressive revenue growth, securing a high-volume production contract with a major state-backed automaker provides crucial commercial validation and a stable revenue stream. It firmly plants Arbe's flag in the Asia-Pacific region, which currently dominates the global automotive radar market with over 40% of the market share.

The broader automotive radar market is projected to more than double in the coming years, with some estimates forecasting a market size of over $30 billion by the early 2030s. This growth is driven by the mass adoption of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and the steady march toward higher levels of autonomy. While Arbe faces stiff competition from other imaging radar startups and established giants like Bosch and Continental, this production win demonstrates that its technology is ready for commercial prime time.

The true test will begin in 2027, when thousands of vehicles equipped with this advanced radar begin navigating China's bustling urban centers and highways. The performance of these systems on public roads will be a closely watched benchmark for the future of radar-centric autonomous driving.