At this year’s Auto Shanghai show, tech giants and automotive suppliers are vying to provide the best in-car software experience and automated driving features to automakers. Global technology giants such as Huawei and Baidu are positioning themselves as automotive software suppliers, while local Chinese startups such as Horizon Robotics and Bosch are leveraging high-tech products to meet the quickly changing Chinese automotive market.
Baidu, one of the leading tech companies in the field, announced their “Apollo City Driving Max” system, which is the most powerful advanced driver-assistance system and currently operates without the use of pricier lidar sensors. With this, Baidu also unveiled their high-definition mapping technology for EVs which is available in forty-five Chinese cities by the end of the year.
Huawei is also trying to catch up with its self-driving technology. On April 16, the firm announced the second iteration of their Advanced Driving System, claiming to surpass Tesla in managing on- and off-ramps among other traffic scenarios.
German auto supplier Bosch also introduced their forth-generation information domain computer at the Shanghai auto show. This fourth-generation computer platform was entirely designed by its Chinese team, allowing automakers to develop their own applications more easily.
Continental also made a showing at the event, introducing a high-performance computer for assisted driving and body control. This computer solution is expected to be released to automakers by 2024.
Horizon Robotics, a domestic Chinese startup, is also making strides in terms of in car applications. On Tuesday, Horizon announced its partnership with electric vehicle lead BYD to develop software and hardware systems for automated driving uses. The company has also joined forces with Volkswagen, Geely, and Li Auto to provide similar tech.
Dr. Yu Kai, founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics, expressed his enthusiasm on the partnership with BYD. He mentioned that this is a significant achievement for the two firms since 2021, and is certainly a milestone result for the companies.
This year’s Auto Shanghai has reflected the progress made by the automotive market in China, providing an insight into the current shifting landscape in the tech industry. All these tech firms are hoping that their in-car software features will give automakers an edge in the market and assist them in creating unique user experiences.
