Volkswagen is gearing up to bring Level 3 automated driving to China by next year, with the technology debuting on two models that will not be sold in Western markets.
The ID. Unyx 06 and ID.
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Unyx 07 will spearhead the rollout, which relies on a locally developed Chinese electronic architecture.
Partnership with Horizon Robotics
The German automaker is collaborating with Chinese firm Horizon Robotics through their joint venture Carizon.
Horizon's AI foundation-model capabilities will be used to develop an advanced AI driving solution for Volkswagen.
The unified AI driving model will handle end-to-end driving tasks and better anticipate the behavior of other road users, creating a safer system.
This driving stack will be integrated within Volkswagen's China Electronic Architecture (CEA), its first locally developed zonal electronic and electrical architecture.
According to Volkswagen, this will allow the complex automated driving functions to be added to several model lines not only in China but also in the "Global South."
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Carizon's L2+ ADAS already appears in several VW models sold in China, including the ID. Unyx 07 and ID.
Unyx 06, with highway Navigate on Autopilot and memory parking.
An L2++ version arrives later this year, extending Navigate on Autopilot into cities and destined for seven of VW's new energy vehicles in the Chinese market.
Level 3 means the car handles the driving within set conditions, and the driver stops being the moment-to-moment backup—something no VW-badged model in Europe or North America can do today.
"China has become one of Volkswagen Group's key innovation and technology hubs, particularly in software, artificial intelligence and automated driving," VW Group CEO Oliver Blume said.
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"Our deepened collaboration within CARIZON further strengthens our ability to develop and scale AI-based solutions for automated driving."
