VinFast is developing a Level 4 autonomous driving platform for Southeast Asia built on NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion 10 compute and Autobrains’ Agentic AI software. The Vietnamese electric-vehicle maker (NASDAQ: VFS) announced the three-way collaboration with NVIDIA and Autobrains at NVIDIA GTC Taipei during COMPUTEX. According to the companies, the program is intended to bring autonomous capability to market without the premium cost structure that has limited wider deployment.
Highlights
- The Level 4 platform runs on NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion 10 compute, paired with Autobrains’ Agentic AI software.
- The architecture is modular, splitting the system across VinFast’s vehicle integration, NVIDIA’s compute, and Autobrains’ software.
- Autobrains’ approach deploys specialized AI agents that activate only when the driving task requires them, rather than running a single end-to-end model.
- The partners frame Southeast Asia’s dense traffic and dynamic urban environments as a demanding validation ground for the system.
A Three-Way Modular Architecture
The collaboration divides the autonomous stack across the three partners. VinFast handles vehicle integration, NVIDIA supplies high-performance compute through DRIVE Hyperion 10, and Autobrains provides the Agentic AI software layer. The companies describe the result as a modular architecture rather than a single integrated system.
That structure targets three obstacles the partners identify in autonomous driving: system complexity, compute cost, and unreliable performance outside controlled environments. NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion provides a validated hardware and software foundation, which the company says reduces the integration work that can add years to an autonomous vehicle program.
How Does Autobrains’ Agentic AI Work?
Unlike traditional end-to-end systems, Autobrains‘ Agentic AI deploys specialized AI agents that activate only when a driving task calls for them. According to the company, this delivers sharper real-world reasoning and lower compute overhead than running one large model continuously, offering what it describes as a scalable, cost-efficient path to autonomy.
Igal Raichelgauz, CEO of Autobrains, said: “Together with NVIDIA and VinFast, Autobrains is introducing the first Agentic level 4: built to handle real-world complexity at scale, and engineered to run on production vehicles. Scaling autonomy demands a paradigm shift, from ever-larger end-to-end models to real-time reasoning behind the wheel.”
Why Southeast Asia
The platform is being developed specifically for Southeast Asia, which the partners describe as a region of dense traffic, diverse road behavior, and highly dynamic urban environments. Those conditions make the region a demanding test for autonomous systems that often perform unevenly outside controlled settings.
Prof.-Dr. Duong Nguyen, Deputy CEO of ADAS at VinFast Global, said: “Advanced mobility shouldn’t be a luxury. VinFast is committed to building scalable and accessible autonomous driving solutions through collaboration with global technology leaders. Together with Autobrains and NVIDIA, we are exploring a practical and cost-efficient path toward level 4 mobility for Southeast Asia’s highly dynamic real-world traffic environments.”
A Cost-Focused Path to Deployment
For VinFast, the program offers a route to advanced autonomous capability without the cost structure that has slowed broader rollout across the industry. The automaker has positioned the collaboration within a wider roadmap of making autonomous driving technology more accessible across its markets.
Rishi Dhall, Vice President of Automotive at NVIDIA, said: “Software-defined vehicles are the driving force behind the automotive industry’s transformation. By building VinFast’s level 4 program on NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion with Autobrains’ AV software, VinFast can accelerate the development of safe, reliable autonomous vehicles designed to perform in complex real-world driving conditions and improve over time.”
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