BYD partners with Huawei for autonomous off-road EVs

Huawei has reached an agreement with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, under which the tech giant will provide its autonomous driving system for the off-road Fangchengbao EVs.

The Bao 8 SUV, the first vehicle to be manufactured under this agreement, will be released later this year. It will be the first to feature the Qiankun ADS 3.0 intelligent driving system.

Huawei’s third-generation autonomous driving solution is attributed with several advanced performance features. It is expected to offer a more human-like experience and improve the safety and effectiveness of the driving assist system. The system is equipped with a comprehensive collision avoidance protocol that considers not only the front and rear directions but also the lateral directions. It may also ensure that no other individuals are endangered by inadvertent acceleration.

The ADS 3.0 also features a remote parking function, providing precise driving and navigation assistance even in complex environments such as gates, passageways, and U-turns. You can rely on its onboard computer to park itself. Moreover, the system can be controlled with voice commands and quick controls.

The partnership between the two companies aligns with BYD’s strategies to enhance its premium lineup, which includes the Denza, Fangchengbao, and Yangwang brands. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers revealed that, in the first six months of this year, these premium lines accounted for 5% of BYD’s total sales.

The decision to incorporate Huawei’s technology suggests that BYD is seeking external partnerships to bolster its smart driving capabilities. This is a significant move for BYD, as the company has heavily invested in creating an embedded advanced driver-assistance system, employing thousands of engineers since last year.

Throughout its history, BYD has dominated the EV industry by applying a vertical integration strategy, meaning that the majority of components, such as batteries, are produced within the company. However, BYD uses intelligent functions supplied by different companies for its higher-grade models. In particular, Denza cars employ Momenta’s advanced driver-assistance systems.

This partnership also illustrates that Huawei is rapidly becoming a significant supplier of advanced driver-assistance systems in the electric vehicle market. For instance, it has been reported that, besides BYD, its partner Audi has shown interest in employing Huawei’s ADS 3.0. Overall, this development shows that as part of its corporate strategy, Huawei has sought to capitalise on market opportunities in the smart electric vehicle industry within its home market.

The inherent nature of the ever-evolving EV market, which has reached new heights recently, fosters rapid collaboration among automakers and tech giants. Both sides seek to leverage their technologies and competencies to augment the potential and capabilities of the vehicles. This agreement between BYD and Huawei indicates the direction in which the industry might be moving and the future resultant technology for cars.

(Copyright: IoT News BYD partners with Huawei for autonomous off-road EVs (iottechnews.com)