SAN JOSE, CALIF. -- Cepton, Inc. (“Cepton” or the “Company”), a Silicon Valley innovator and leader in high-performance lidar solutions, announced the completion of its acquisition by KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD. (“Koito”) (TSE: 7276), a leading tier one supplier of automotive lighting systems. As a privately held, indirect subsidiary of Koito in the United States, Cepton will continue to operate with its corporate headquarters in San Jose, CA.

This acquisition, effective January 7th, 2025, marks a strategic milestone in the industrialization of Cepton’s cutting-edge lidar technology, combining the strengths of both companies to reshape future mobility. Supported by Koito’s world-renowned automotive expertise, Cepton will continue to commercialize its lidar solutions with a strong focus on quality, reliability and sustainability. Together, Cepton and Koito aim to drive innovation and unlock the next level of safe autonomy for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, industrial equipment and transportation infrastructure.

Key Highlights of the Acquisition:

· Shared vision to increase automotive safety across all levels of autonomy through the deployment of precision sensing and intelligent perception solutions.
· Combination of Cepton’s leadership in lidar innovation and Koito’s extensive expertise in industrializing premium automotive solutions.
· Increased financial stability, allowing for long-term commitments to scaling Cepton’s technology for mass-market adoption.
· A unified and streamlined supply chain that shortens development cycles and provides full-stack support from program initiation to aftermarket services.
· An expanded global network of customers and partners, with deeper penetration into key OEM-driven markets.

Dr. Jun Pei, CEO and Co-Founder of Cepton, says: “We are thrilled to join Koito as one company given the synergies between Cepton and Koito demonstrated through our years of close collaboration. The automotive industry has been trialing lidar technology for nearly a decade, and our combination with Koito comes at a critical inflection point, where trials must transition into full-scale, long-term deployment. Joining forces with Koito enables us to maximize our strengths in delivering what’s of utmost importance to our OEM customers: a true balance between performance, reliability and cost.”

Mr. Michiaki Kato, President and COO at Koito, adds: “The integration of Cepton will enhance Koito’s ability to strengthen its global leadership, particularly in setting industry standards for precision sensing technologies across diverse vehicle types and applications. As part of Koito’s vision of ‘lighting the way for our sustainable future,’ we aim to make lidar an accessible technology for automakers worldwide. With the addition of the Cepton team, Koito is committed to driving a future of safe, smart and sustainable mobility.”