Competition in the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) sector is heating up as companies like Xpeng, Li Auto, and Huawei vie to produce the most comprehensive assisted driving systems. As China focuses on vehicle electrification and the digitization of its automotive industry, these companies are making significant advancements in assisted driving technology, aiming to make it a key selling point in the growing EV market.
Xpeng’s latest model, the G6, boasts an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) with 31 smart sensors, making it one of the most advanced autonomous driving vehicles in China. Equipped with dual forward-facing LiDAR sensors, millimeter-wave radar, cameras, and ultrasonic radar, the G6 can sense and see all around its body. Xpeng’s City NGP (Navigation Guided Pilot) smart navigation-assisted driving tool enables seamless travel on city roads, while Lane Centering Control (LCC) uses Lidar-based adaptive cruise and lane-centering features to maintain optimal cruising speed. The vehicle’s advanced XNet neural network processes 4D and 3D information on dynamic and static targets, enhancing its 360-degree perception.
Li Auto, on the other hand, has made significant strides in smart space (SS) R&D, smart driving, and high-voltage fully electric platforms. The company’s upcoming model, Mind GPT, will feature the City NOA smart driving system, which does not rely on high-precision maps. Instead, Li Auto utilizes a bird’s eye view (BEV) large model that perceives and comprehends real-time road structure information. The company has also trained its Traffic Intention Net (TIN) to navigate complex urban roads without relying on pre-set human traffic regulations. With continual updates and training, Li Auto aims to introduce the NOA commuting feature, allowing early adopters to commute using navigation-assisted driving.
Huawei’s automotive brand Aito has introduced its second-generation autonomous driving system, ADS 2.0, in the M5 smart drive edition. The system combines various sensors, including LiDAR, millimeter-wave radars, cameras, and ultrasonic radars, to provide 360-degree coverage. The Aito M5 can handle changing light conditions, identify pedestrians and obstacles, and actively maneuver around obstructions on urban roads. The system also boasts high success rates for merging onto and off highway ramps and offers various assisted driving features.
As the race to launch assisted driving in the Chinese market intensifies, more car companies and self-driving solution providers are expected to join. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) plans to introduce an updated standard system guide for smart, network-connected vehicles to accompany this competition. The goal is to bring assisted driving technology closer to the Level 3 autonomy standard.
