At the upcoming Shanghai International Auto Show, Volkswagen Group will showcase its first self-developed autonomous driving system. This full-stack solution was developed by Carizon, a joint venture between Volkswagen's software division Cariad and Horizon Robotics in Beijing, and trained using a new AI platform called GAIA.
Volkswagen says the technology will debut later this year on a Volkswagen-branded electric vehicle, before being progressively integrated into a range of affordable electric models based on a China-specific compact platform starting in 2026. This is part of Volkswagen's "in China, for China" strategy, aiming to leverage local expertise for faster and more targeted product launches.
Officially established in November 2023, the Carizon joint venture has seen rapid progress in the past 18 months, with over 500 engineers from Beijing and Shanghai dedicated to developing this advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS). The GAIA platform, Carizon's proprietary intellectual property, intelligently collects and analyzes data. Each vehicle collects 2TB of data daily, undergoing over 62,137 miles of test driving, enabling highly automated AI training of the vehicle software.
GAIA's speed is particularly impressive, boasting six times faster data analysis compared to traditional platforms, and reducing the AI solution verification cycle to one-fiftieth of the original time. The new ADAS system, described as Level 2+, similar to Tesla's Autopilot and Ford's BlueCruise, is expected to hit the market this year.
Marcus Haafkemeyer, CEO of Carizon, stated: "Our Level 2++ advanced driver-assistance system, featuring city-driving navigation assistance (NoA), is currently in advanced testing and is planned for launch in 2026. This also lays the technological foundation for a rapid evolution towards Level 3." However, all this will be subject to regulatory approvals.
Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said: "With our new ADAS system, we demonstrate the possibilities when Volkswagen's strengths are combined with local innovation. Developed at 'China speed' and fully tailored to the needs of Chinese customers, this system will set new benchmarks in driving performance, safety and quality in the market."
However, it's worth noting that the launch of this new technology comes at a time when the Chinese government is strengthening its regulation of the marketing, testing, and updates of driver-assistance technologies, aiming to prevent consumer misconceptions about their capabilities and ensure strict adherence to regulations.
Key Highlights:
1️⃣ Volkswagen will showcase its first self-developed autonomous driving system at the Shanghai Auto Show, with a planned launch this year.
2️⃣ The system was developed by over 500 engineers in 18 months, utilizing the GAIA AI platform for data analysis, resulting in significant efficiency improvements.
3️⃣ The new ADAS system will adopt Level 2+ standards, with future development towards higher levels of autonomous driving functionality.
