Volkswagen is deepening its collaboration with Horizon Robotics, a Chinese company specializing in AI semiconductors and autonomous driving technologies. On Thursday, the two companies announced an agreement to integrate Horizon’s full-scenario intelligent driving solution, Horizon SuperDrive (HSD), into Volkswagen’s next-generation vehicles.
Volkswagen regards Horizon as one of the leading players in China’s smart vehicle computing solutions sector and aims to accelerate the development of AI-powered autonomous driving technologies optimized for Chinese driving environments through this partnership.
This announcement builds on the companies’ joint venture formed in 2023, when Volkswagen’s software subsidiary CARIAD and Horizon Robotics established CARIZON. Under Volkswagen’s regional strategy of developing solutions specifically for the Chinese market, the joint venture has focused on advancing driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD) technologies tailored to local needs.
CARIZON currently employs around 500 engineers and is developing Level 2+ autonomous driving systems based on Horizon’s high-performance AI chipset, Journey 6. The agreement to adopt HSD is considered a major milestone in realizing the commercialization potential of CARIZON’s technology.
Volkswagen aims to enhance its in-vehicle hardware-software integration capabilities through HSD and deliver a human-like driving experience that combines traffic efficiency with natural steering performance, based on an end-to-end software framework.
This partnership illustrates how collaborations between global automakers and Chinese tech firms are driving new competitiveness in the autonomous driving sector. It also highlights the strategic importance of localizing technology in China, the world’s largest electric vehicle market, and an emerging test-bed for advanced mobility solutions.
