Boston-based Teradar unveiled its first flagship terahertz sensor, Summit, at CES 2026, two months after emerging from stealth with a $150 million fundraise. The company positions Summit as the first long-range, high-resolution sensor designed for cars that performs in any weather.
Summit operates in the terahertz band of the electromagnetic spectrum, located between microwaves and infrared. This solid-state sensor contains no moving parts. Teradar developed it to incorporate the strengths of lidar and radar sensors while minimizing their limitations. Automakers face high costs with lidar and performance constraints with radar in adverse conditions. Summit addresses these issues by filling the gap left by legacy sensors.
The company describes Summit as “designed for high performance in any type of weather, filling a critical gap left by legacy radar and lidar sensors.” Teradar anticipates initial shipments in 2028, provided it secures contracts with automakers. Upon integration, Summit would allow those automakers to incorporate partial or full autonomy features into their vehicles.
Teradar currently demonstrates the technology to five leading automakers from the United States and Europe, along with three Tier 1 suppliers. These efforts aim to validate the sensor’s capabilities and secure production agreements.
This unveiling occurs amid changes in automotive sensor suppliers. In December 2025, U.S. lidar firm Luminar filed for bankruptcy protection. The filing followed the collapse of contracts with Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, as those automakers abandoned the technology.
Luminar attributed part of the contract losses to low-cost competition from China. Lidar adoption remains robust in China’s automotive market with no signs of decline. In October 2025, Chinese lidar company Hesai announced production of more than 1 million lidar sensors that year.
Other U.S. lidar companies have responded to market pressures through consolidation and diversification. Ouster acquired and merged with rival Velodyne following industry consolidation. Ouster now pursues opportunities in robotics and smart infrastructure markets.
