Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) is planning to establish an autonomous driving research and development (R&D) center in Silicon Valley as part of its broader push into the self-driving segment, local media reported on Tuesday.
The new facility will report to GWM’s Chief Technology Officer, Wu Huixiao, and the company is actively recruiting smart driving talent in Silicon Valley, tech media outlet Leiphone said, citing a person familiar with the matter. GWM currently operates technology centers in Detroit and Los Angeles, according to its website.
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GWM spun off its smart driving division in 2019, creating Haomo.AI Technology, an independent subsidiary focused on self-driving technology. Haomo remains majority-owned by GWM and has secured multiple rounds of funding. While some GWM models already incorporate Haomo’s smart driving solutions, the city NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) feature has yet to be deployed, the report noted.
In addition to in-house development, GWM is also leveraging third-party smart driving solutions. In November 2024, the automaker invested $100 million in DeepRoute, an autonomous driving startup tasked with developing self-driving solutions for GWM vehicles. Another Chinese startup, Momenta, has also received orders from GWM, according to Leiphone.
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GWM’s move comes as China’s smart vehicle competition heats up. On Monday, rival automaker Geely Auto announced plans to integrate its AI-powered G-Pilot system across all its brands, including Galaxy, Zeekr, and Lynk. The push underscores Geely’s ambition to accelerate autonomous driving adoption in China’s growing market.
Meanwhile, BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, announced last month that it would expand its own autopilot system across nearly all models, including the budget-friendly Seagull hatchback, priced at 69,800 yuan ($9,583). The decision highlights a shift toward making autonomous driving features standard in mass-market vehicles.
