Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
At Auto Shanghai 2025, Volkswagen Group in China introduced its first self-developed, AI-powered Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), marking a significant step in its “In China, for China” strategy. Tailored for China’s complex traffic conditions, this system prioritizes seamless and safe driving, leveraging local innovation to meet the needs of Chinese customers. Developed by CARIZON, a joint venture between Volkswagen’s software arm CARIAD and Horizon Robotics, the ADAS uses the AI-driven GAIA platform to deliver high-precision, safety-focused driving functions up to Level 2++, with plans to advance toward Level 3.
Key Highlights:
- Local Development: The ADAS, crafted by over 500 experts in Beijing and Shanghai, reflects Volkswagen’s commitment to building in-house tech competence in China.
- AI-Driven Innovation: The GAIA platform processes two terabytes of data per vehicle daily, accelerating data analysis sixfold and reducing verification cycles significantly.
- Market Accessibility: The system will debut in a Volkswagen model in 2025 and integrate into compact segment vehicles from 2026, targeting price-sensitive customers.
- Future-Ready: Level 2++ features, including Urban Navigate on Autopilot, are in testing for a 2026 launch, laying groundwork for Level 3 autonomy.
- Market Trends: By 2030, over 80% of new vehicles in China are expected to feature Level 2+ systems, with 75% adopting Level 2++ for urban and highway scenarios.
The system’s high-computing System-on-Chip ensures rapid responses across diverse driving scenarios, enhancing safety and performance. CARIZON’s GAIA platform, with over 100,000 kilometers of daily test driving, enables predictive driving by analyzing vast datasets, making vehicles proactive in avoiding hazards. This efficiency reduces development costs and accelerates market delivery, aligning with China’s fast-paced tech landscape.
Volkswagen’s broader strategy includes launching over 20 fully electric and electrified models by 2027 and around 30 by 2030, reinforcing its focus on e-mobility and intelligent driving. Auto Shanghai 2025 also showcased new smart electric vehicles from Audi and Volkswagen, developed exclusively for China, underscoring the company’s localized innovation drive.
Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen AG Group Board Member for China, emphasized the system’s role in setting new benchmarks for safety and quality, developed at “China Speed.” This milestone highlights Volkswagen’s ability to combine global expertise with local innovation, positioning it to lead in China’s rapidly evolving automotive market.
Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
