The Volkswagen Group has unveiled its first proprietary AI-powered, highly automated driving system, which uses an efficient system-on-chip with high computing power to enable “smooth, rapid responses to a wide range of driving scenarios”, the auto maker says.
The system has been developed for the Chinese market, and the group aims to present in China a model with this technology before the end of this year. Starting in 2026, the system will also be integrated into models based on the China-specific compact main platform.
As a part of its ‘In China, for China’ strategy, in November 2023 Volkswagen established Carizon, a joint venture between its software platform Cariad and Chinese tech company Horizon Robotics.
The system transforms intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) into predictive driving companions with a “human-like driving experience” that aims to avoid dangerous situations before they arise. With,
Carizon’s proprietary AI-driven data platform Gaia, which collects two terabytes of data per vehicle per day and over 100,000 kilometers of test driving daily, is used for intelligent data collection and analysis.
This enables Carizon to generate and validate hundreds of thousands of real-world driving scenarios with speed and accuracy, accelerating the development cycle, reducing costs and ensuring a seamless and safe driving performance.
Today, one in four newly registered vehicles in China are equipped with a Level 2 driving system for highway scenarios. By 2030, more than 80% of new vehicles are expected to feature Level 2+ systems, with 75% projected to have Level 2++ systems that cover both highway and urban traffic scenarios.
The company’s ‘In China, For China’ strategy is seeing it strengthen its local development capacities in e-mobility, digitalization and intelligent driving, while also accelerating its decision-making and development processes in the region.
Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen Group board member for China and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said, “With our new ADAS system, we are demonstrating what is possible when strengths of Volkswagen are combined with local innovation. The system has been developed at ‘China speed’, fully tailored to the needs of our Chinese customers and will set a new benchmark in the market for driving performance, safety and quality. The rapid progress we have made reflects the outstanding capabilities of our joint venture Carizon and the successful implementation of our ‘In China, for China’ strategy.”
Marcus Hafkemeyer, CEO of Carizon, said, “With a team of 500 local ADAS experts and the consistent integration of AI in the development process, we have built an advanced ADAS system in a very short time — one that will deliver outstanding performance in driving performance and safety. This year, we will bring Level 2+ ADAS to the road. Level 2++ ADAS with Urban Navigate on Autopilot is in advanced testing and will be launched in 2026. This will also enable us to lay the technological foundations for a fast-track evolution toward Level 3.”
In related news, location data and technology platform Here Technologies has announced its strategic partnership with global mobility technology company ECARX to co-develop a new-generation navigation system with multi-scenario adaptability, integrating the Here SDK navigation platform with ECARX’s full-stack solutions. Click here to read the full story.