FAW Group, one of China's leading automotive manufacturers, has announced a strategic collaboration with Mobileye, a renowned autonomous driving solutions company. The partnership, inked on September 13 in Changchun, Jilin, where FAW is headquartered, aims to integrate Mobileye's cutting-edge technology into FAW's vehicle lineup, with production slated to commence next year.
Under this collaboration, FAW and Mobileye plan to develop new vehicle models leveraging Mobileye's SuperVision and Chauffeur platforms, according to statements from the autonomous driving technology firm. Specifically, FAW intends to incorporate Mobileye's SuperVision driver-assistance feature into select models within its prestigious Hongqi brand.
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In a subsequent phase of the partnership, the two companies will integrate the Mobileye Chauffeur platform, designed to enable hands-off, eyes-off smart driving capabilities in specific road environments, into the Hongqi E701 model.
Production timelines have been set, with vehicles featuring the Mobileye SuperVision solution set to roll off the assembly lines by the end of 2024. Meanwhile, vehicles equipped with Mobileye Chauffeur technology are expected to enter mass production by the close of 2025.
Notably, this collaboration is not limited to FAW's Hongqi brand; Mobileye and FAW intend to gradually introduce Mobileye's advanced solutions across FAW's other brands. Additionally, discussions are underway to explore further avenues of cooperation between the two entities, as per a press release from Mobileye.
Mobileye's SuperVision, introduced in 2021, made its debut with the Zeekr 001, which initiated deliveries in October of the same year. The company's founder and CEO, Amnon Shashua, revealed in January that by 2026, the number of SuperVision-equipped vehicles is projected to reach approximately 1.2 million.
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Mobileye's Chauffeur is an advanced Level 4 autonomous driving solution that integrates a range of sensors, including LiDAR, to facilitate point-to-point, hands-off, eyes-off autonomous driving experiences.
While FAW may not be commonly associated with advanced assisted driving technology by Chinese consumers, the company has been engaged in research and development efforts in this domain since as early as 2003, according to statements made by a FAW executive in October 2020.
