Volkswagen Bets on China for Level 3 Autonomous Driving

Volkswagen is pushing forward with Level 3 autonomous driving technology, a significant step beyond current driver-assistance systems. This advanced capability allows the car to drive itself under specific conditions, freeing the driver from constant monitoring and immediate reaction readiness. Notably, no Volkswagen models currently sold in Europe or the United States offer this Level 3 functionality.

The development is a joint effort with Chinese company Horizon Robotics, with their joint venture, Carizon, spearheading the technology. This collaboration aims to create a system that better analyzes the vehicle's surroundings and anticipates the behavior of other road users. This is crucial for transitioning from systems that primarily assist drivers to those that can effectively replace them in certain scenarios.

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China has become one of the key innovation and technology centers for the Volkswagen Group, especially in the areas of software, artificial intelligence, and automated driving.

This new solution will be integrated into Volkswagen's China Electronic Architecture (CEA), an electrical and electronic system developed locally in China. CEA is designed to accelerate the rollout of advanced automated driving features across multiple Volkswagen model lines. Carizon is building upon existing ADAS Level 2+ systems already available in China, which include features like Navigate on Autopilot and parking assist with memory functions.

Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, highlighted the strategic importance of this shift, stating, "China has become one of the key innovation and technology centers for the Volkswagen Group, especially in the areas of software, artificial intelligence, and automated driving." This partnership underscores China's growing role not just as a market but as a vital center for technological innovation within the global automotive industry, with potential implications for future vehicle development worldwide.

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The deepened collaboration within Carizon further strengthens our capabilities to develop and scale AI-based automated driving solutions.