Momenta (6880.HK) and XHEART have selected QNX OS for Safety as the software foundation for an autonomous driving platform certified to ISO 26262 ASIL D, the highest automotive safety integrity level defined by the standard. The platform pairs Momenta’s full-stack autonomous driving solution with XHEART’s X7 automotive-grade system-on-chip and a QNX operating system built on QNX SDP 8.0. The three companies describe the result as a production-ready solution intended to help automakers accelerate deployment while meeting global functional safety requirements.
Highlights
- The platform is certified to ISO 26262 ASIL D, the standard’s highest integrity level.
- QNX OS for Safety, built on QNX SDP 8.0, serves as the operating system layer.
- Compute comes from the XHEART X7 automotive-grade SoC, paired with Momenta’s full-stack autonomous driving software.
- The partners position the package for vehicles bound for markets requiring compliance with Europe’s UN R171 (DCAS).
What the Three Companies Contribute
The collaboration divides the stack across software, silicon, and operating system, with each partner supplying one layer of what Momenta calls a Physical AI-defined autonomous driving platform.
| Layer | Supplier | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomous driving software | Momenta | Full-stack autonomous driving solution |
| Compute silicon | XHEART | X7 automotive-grade SoC |
| Operating system | QNX, a division of BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB, TSX: BB) | QNX OS for Safety, built on QNX SDP 8.0 |
Momenta’s autonomous driving software has reached production programs through OEM partnerships, including factory-integrated robotaxi work with Mercedes-Benz.
What Does ASIL D Certification Mean for OEM Programs?
ASIL D is the most demanding of the four Automotive Safety Integrity Levels set out in ISO 26262, the functional safety standard for road vehicle electrical and electronic systems. Certification at that level gives automakers a functionally safe base layer to build on rather than one they must construct and argue for themselves during type approval.
The companies report that the certified platform enhances driving safety and intelligence, and say it gives OEMs a foundation for vehicles destined for stringent regulatory markets. Those claims come from the partners rather than an independent assessment.
How UN R171 Factors In
The partners single out Europe’s UN R171 as a compliance target. Adopted by the UNECE World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations and in force since September 30, 2024, UN Regulation No. 171 governs Driver Control Assistance Systems — features that assist with longitudinal and lateral vehicle control on a sustained basis without taking over the full driving task. The regulation sets performance, driver-engagement, and warning requirements for those systems.
For suppliers selling into European markets, a pre-certified safety foundation shortens the documentation and validation path an automaker faces at approval.
Executive Commentary
“The global scale for Physical AI demands safety first. Through our collaboration with QNX and XHEART, we are proud to deliver a production-ready system built to one of the highest global safety benchmarks, empowering automakers to confidently introduce intelligent vehicles to markets everywhere,” said Huan Sun, SVP of Momenta.
“Momenta and XHEART are helping enable the next generation of Physical AI technology, and QNX is proud to be the Safety-Certified Operating System underpinning that future,” said Grant Courville, SVP of Products and Strategy at QNX. “This collaboration with Momenta and XHEART strengthens our position as a trusted foundational software provider for the world’s leading autonomous driving systems.”
“Building next-generation autonomous driving requires AI-native silicon,” said TL Lee, CEO of XHEART. “The XHEART X7 SoC, paired with QNX’s certified OS and Momenta’s algorithms, gives OEMs the performance, safety and scalability required for global markets.”
