China's intelligent driving market is undergoing deep consolidation, with resources concentrating among leading players and technological paths converging, yet the market landscape remains unsettled. Local startups and homegrown brands leverage full-stack self-developed capabilities to gain advantages in localized adaptation, while most foreign brands lag behind due to slow algorithm updates and insufficient localization.
To reverse this trend, Volkswagen Group China is accelerating its "In China, for China" technology strategy by establishing a joint venture, CARIZON, with Horizon Robotics to deepen AI collaboration. This partnership abandons the old model of directly adopting overseas solutions and adopts a white-box licensing approach, aiming to build an autonomous and controllable AI-driven system and advance the R&D and mass production iteration of L3/L4 autonomous driving.
Abandoning the Pure Outsourcing Model
In the past, most foreign brands relied on ready-made solutions developed by overseas headquarters, with core algorithms and AI capabilities constrained by headquarters, making it difficult to cope with China's complex urban streets and mixed traffic scenarios. Volkswagen's previous systems also faced issues of conservative algorithms and slow iteration. Through the partnership with Horizon Robotics, Volkswagen obtains a white-box license for Horizon's basic AI models via CARIZON, independently developing a complete algorithm chain from sensor perception and decision-making to vehicle control, firmly grasping the initiative in technology iteration.
This ecosystem integrates CARIZON's C7H chip with the GAIA data platform, forming a closed-loop R&D system of hardware, data, and algorithms, addressing the shortcomings of overseas general-purpose solutions in recognition accuracy and prediction capability under complex conditions.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume stated that China is the core engine of global innovation, especially in AI and autonomous driving. Localized development not only serves China but also exports mature technologies globally. Volkswagen no longer views China merely as a sales market but as a core R&D base for intelligent technology.
Dual-Track Advancement: Mass Production and Pre-Research in Parallel
Volkswagen's upgrade roadmap is clear: by advancing both "existing product iteration" and "future technology reserves" on dual tracks, execution efficiency is relatively high.
In terms of mass production, Volkswagen's localized technology has entered the delivery stage. CARIZON's advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) has been finalized and is scheduled to debut in the third quarter of 2026, equipped in seven new electric models from three joint ventures. The system supports full-scenario navigation assistance, filling the gap in urban driving capabilities.
From 2027 onward, the system will be fully adapted to the CEA electronic and electrical architecture, achieving standardized upgrades for new energy models and enhancing competitiveness. Previously, the CARIZON system had been integrated into the Zhonghua 06/07 models, offering functions such as highway navigation and memory parking, accumulating local road data and mass production experience.
In terms of high-level pre-research, the collaboration will accelerate the deployment of L3/L4. Leveraging Horizon's computing power support, Volkswagen has advanced the official delivery timeline of L3 autonomous driving to the second half of 2027.
Volkswagen Group China Chairman Ralf Brandstätter stated that the brand will focus on safety, building a benchmark high-level intelligent driving system, relying on local AI models to achieve fast and safe deployment.From a competitive perspective, this layout makes up for Volkswagen's shortcomings. In the 200,000 RMB pure electric market, domestic brands are seizing market share with their intelligent driving advantages, while the pricing power of foreign brands continues to weaken. Volkswagen combines local full-stack development with chassis tuning and safety advantages, forming a synergy between traditional engineering capabilities and local technology, breaking the stereotype that foreign brands lag behind in intelligence.