AEye Expands Apollo Manufacturing Capacity to 60,000 Units, Bolstered by a Globally Recognized Institutional Investor

AEye, Inc. (NASDAQ: LIDR), the global pioneer in software-defined lidar and creator of the high-performance Apollo sensor, today announced a major acceleration of its growth strategy, driven by an expanded manufacturing engagement with LITEON Technology Corp. (TWSE: 2301) and a strategic capital infusion from a globally recognized institutional investor.

These developments will supercharge AEye’s capital-light model, enabling rapid scaling of Apollo production to meet growing global demand while maintaining operational efficiency and financial discipline.

LITEON, a global leader in optoelectronics and power management, is collaborating with AEye to establish a dedicated manufacturing line for Apollo lidar units. The initiative not only expands its capacity but also upgrades its capabilities to meet the requirements of Apollo’s upcoming demands. LITEON is allocating resources and manufacturing expertise to support the establishment of the new production line as part of its ongoing collaboration with AEye.

Designed for highly automated precision assembly and automotive-grade quality, the new line will initially support an annual output of up to 60,000 Apollo units, positioning AEye to meet near-term demand across automotive, defense, smart infrastructure, and industrial markets. Full production capacity is expected by mid-2026.

In parallel, the additional institutional capital is expected to accelerate manufacturing readiness and delivery of Apollo units to global customers. This capital strengthens AEye’s balance sheet and reinforces investor confidence in its asset-efficient, partnership-driven model designed to scale output without heavy fixed-cost burden.

“These developments mark a defining moment for AEye,” said Matt Fisch, CEO of AEye. “LITEON’s expanded manufacturing engagement and our mutual commitment to scaling Apollo production, along with the strategic support from our investor, validate our capital-light strategy and reflect strong conviction in Apollo’s commercial potential. Together, we’re ensuring that AEye can deliver at scale, with the quality, reliability, and cost structure demanded by global automotive and infrastructure customers.”

Apollo’s ability to detect objects up to one kilometer away, while maintaining its compact size and low-power performance, has positioned it as a front-runner for next-generation safety and perception systems. The expanded production capacity underscores the market’s belief in Apollo’s readiness for high-volume deployment and AEye’s disciplined approach to scaling through world-class partnerships rather than heavy capital expenditure.

About AEye

AEye offers unique software-defined lidar solutions that enable advanced driver-assistance, vehicle autonomy, smart infrastructure, security, and logistics applications that save lives and propel the future of transportation and mobility. AEye’s flagship product, Apollo, has been widely recognized for its small form factor and its ability to detect objects at up to one kilometer. In addition to Apollo as a stand-alone sensor, AEye also offers a full-stack solution through its OPTIS™ platform. OPTIS™ provides a complete system that captures a high-resolution 3D image of the world, interprets it, and provides direction to act upon what it sees in real-time.

About LITEON

LITEON Technology Corporation (2301.tw) was established in 1975. As a pioneer of LED in Taiwan, it is the first electronics company listed on TAIEX. Over the past 50 years, LITEON has secured a strong position in the global market with its leading opto-electronic and power management technology. As it successfully ventures into power supply for computing, optoelectronics, auto electronics, 5G and AIoT in recent years, LITEON aspires to power its mid- and long-term development with green data center, clean mobility, and efficient infrastructure as its growth engines. Given the environmental and climate change worldwide, LITEON started to follow relevant global initiatives 20 years ago to develop next-generation products that meet sustainability requirements in collaboration with the suppliers, fulfilling its social responsibilities with concrete actions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are sometimes accompanied by words such as “believe,” “continue,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “predict,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, statements about the establishment of a highly automated precision manufacturing line capable of producing up to 60,000 Apollo lidar units annually, the ability of AEye to scale manufacturing capacity without heavy capital expenditure, and the near-term demand across multiple markets for Apollo lidar sensors, among others. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by an investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are very difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from the assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AEye. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) the risks that the manufacturing engagement which expands capacity may not support the production of 60,000 units annually to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (ii) the risks that these developments may not supercharge AEye’s capital-light model nor enable rapid scaling of Apollo production while maintaining operational efficiency and financial discipline to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (iii) the risks that the dedicated manufacturing line for Apollo lidar units may not be established to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (iv) the risks that the Apollo manufacturing line may not expand capacity or upgrade capabilities to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (v) the risks that LITEON may not allocate resources nor manufacturing expertise to establish the new production line as part of its ongoing collaboration with AEye to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (vi) the risks that near-term demand across the automotive, defense, smart infrastructure, and industrial markets may not materialize to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (vii) the risks that full production capacity may not be achieved by mid-2026 due to delays, or other reasons; (viii) the risks that the additional institutional capital may not accelerate manufacturing readiness nor delivery of Apollo units to global customers to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (ix) the risks that the additional capital may not reinforce investor confidence in AEye’s asset-efficient, partnership-driven model to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (x) the risks that AEye will be in a position to deliver products at scale, with the quality, reliability, and cost structure demanded by global automotive and infrastructure customers to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (xi) the risks that Apollo may not be positioned as a front-runner for next-generation safety and perception systems to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (xii) the risks that the expanded production capacity may not underscore the market’s belief in Apollo’s readiness for high-volume deployment and AEye’s disciplined approach to scaling to the extent or in the time frame anticipated, or at all; (xiii) the risks that lidar adoption may occur slower than anticipated or fail to occur at all; (xiv) the risks that AEye’s products may not meet the diverse range of performance and functional requirements of target markets and customers; (xv) the risks that AEye’s products may not function as anticipated by AEye, or by target markets and customers; (xvi) the risks that AEye may not be in a position to adequately or timely address either the near or long-term opportunities that may or may not exist in the evolving autonomous transportation industry; (xvii) the risks that laws and regulations are adopted impacting the use of lidar that AEye is unable to comply with, in whole or in part; (xviii) the risks associated with changes in competitive and regulated industries in which AEye operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting AEye’s business; (xix) the risks that AEye is unable to adequately implement its business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; and (xx) the risks of economic downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive and evolving industry in which AEye operates. These risks and uncertainties may be amplified by current or future global conflicts and current and potential trade restrictions, trade tensions, and tariffs, all of which continue to cause economic uncertainty. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the periodic report that AEye has most recently filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and other documents filed by us or that will be filed by us from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.

Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements; AEye assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. AEye gives no assurance that AEye will achieve any of its expectations.

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