BY COMFORT OGBONNA
Volkswagen announced on Wednesday that its China-based automated driving subsidiary, CARIZON, is strengthening its partnership with Horizon Robotics as the German automaker pushes to accelerate the development of advanced autonomous driving technologies for the world’s largest automotive market.
The expanded collaboration is aimed at speeding up the development and commercialization of Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving systems, which are expected to play a major role in the next generation of intelligent vehicles. By combining CARIZON’s software development capabilities with Horizon Robotics’ expertise in artificial intelligence and autonomous driving chips, the two companies hope to deliver more advanced driver assistance features to customers in China.
Volkswagen said it expects deliveries of vehicles equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities to begin in the second half of next year, marking an important milestone in the company’s strategy to expand its presence in China’s fast-growing intelligent vehicle market.
Level 3 automated driving allows a vehicle to perform most driving tasks under certain conditions while enabling drivers to temporarily take their attention off the road. However, drivers must remain available to take control whenever the system requests intervention. Level 4 technology represents a more advanced stage of automation, allowing vehicles to operate without human intervention in specific environments or operating conditions.
The strengthened partnership reflects Volkswagen’s broader strategy of increasing investments in locally developed technology to better compete in China’s rapidly evolving electric and intelligent vehicle sector. Chinese consumers have shown growing demand for vehicles equipped with advanced driver assistance systems, artificial intelligence features and connected technologies, prompting global automakers to expand collaborations with domestic technology companies.
Horizon Robotics has become one of China’s leading developers of autonomous driving technology, providing AI processors and software platforms that support intelligent driving systems for a growing number of automakers. The company has established partnerships with several domestic and international vehicle manufacturers as demand for advanced driving technologies continues to increase.
For Volkswagen, expanding its relationship with Horizon Robotics is expected to strengthen its ability to develop intelligent driving solutions tailored specifically for the Chinese market, where competition among both domestic and global automakers has intensified. The collaboration is also intended to shorten development cycles and accelerate the rollout of next-generation autonomous driving capabilities.
As automakers race to introduce increasingly sophisticated self-driving technologies, partnerships between vehicle manufacturers and artificial intelligence companies are becoming central to the industry’s transformation. Volkswagen’s latest move underscores its commitment to advancing autonomous driving technology while strengthening its competitiveness in one of its most important global markets.
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