Huawei’s advanced driving system gains traction among Japanese and European joint ventures in China, marking a shift towards localisation and faster deployment of autonomous technology amid a diverse supplier ecosystem.
Huawei’s Advanced Driving System (ADS) is making notable headway with Japanese joint‑venture automakers, signalling a shift in how foreign carmakers operating in China source autonomous‑driving technology. According to Pandaily, Dongfeng Honda, G...
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AC Toyota and Toyota’s Lexus marque are reported to be adopting Huawei ADS, while a German luxury sports car brand is evaluating Huawei in a competitive bid against an established autonomous driving supplier for a key project.
For years, joint ventures favoured globally unified platforms built around chips from Nvidia and Qualcomm, a model that advantaged suppliers such as Momenta, which tailored Nvidia‑ and Qualcomm‑based solutions to precisely meet joint‑venture requirements. Industry observers say that approach is now loosening as some manufacturers take a “China‑first” stance for vehicles sold in the world’s largest auto market. According to China Daily, Nissan has rolled out an Altima equipped with HarmonyOS, and GAC Toyota’s forthcoming bZ7 sedan will include Huawei’s HarmonyOS cockpit and powertrain components, reflecting the broader integration of Huawei technology into product lines.
Huawei’s consumer recognition in China appears to be a decisive factor. Pandaily reports that Huawei ADS is the most influential autonomous‑driving brand among Chinese end consumers, and partnering with Huawei offers joint ventures a rapid route to upgrade driving automation while harnessing the telecoms giant’s marketing clout. That dynamic is echoed in recent product tie‑ups: Hangzhou Daily notes FAW‑Audi is integrating Huawei’s Qiankun ADS into models such as the Q6L e‑tron and A5L sedan, an example of German engineering paired with Chinese software.
Technical features are also shaping procurement decisions. Pandaily highlights Huawei’s in‑cabin LiDAR solution, which avoids placing sensors on the vehicle front and thus better preserves exterior design, an attribute likely to appeal to luxury marques that prioritise aesthetics. That design advantage, coupled with Huawei’s modular software stack, helps explain why foreign and joint‑venture brands are increasingly willing to test or adopt Huawei systems. China Daily and Yahoo Autos report that BMW China continues to work with Momenta on an AI‑powered driver‑assistance system, while GAC‑Toyota’s bZ7 integrates Huawei’s full technology suite, underscoring a competitive landscape in which multiple suppliers coexist.
The move by joint ventures to embrace locally developed stacks is not uniform and comes with trade‑offs. Suppliers that built solutions around global silicon and reference platforms retain strengths in compatibility with multinational vehicle programmes; Momenta’s success within that model remains evident. At the same time, automakers seeking faster feature roll‑outs, closer integration between cockpit and powertrain, or stronger consumer branding in China appear increasingly willing to accept a China‑centric supplier strategy.
Automotive analysts say the near term will be defined by mixed supplier ecosystems and project‑level competition, with design considerations, consumer recognition and time‑to‑market weighing heavily in procurement decisions. According to Gasgoo’s Autonews, Changan’s recent models adopting Huawei’s QianKun ADS demonstrate how early adopters are using the partnership to bolster the “intelligent” competitiveness of domestic brands.
Manufacturers and suppliers alike face fresh commercial and technical challenges as these partnerships evolve. The outcome will shape not only the in‑car experience for Chinese buyers but also influence the procurement templates used by joint ventures elsewhere. Industry data and recent model announcements indicate that Huawei’s ADS has secured a foothold, but established suppliers remain competitive where global platform alignment and certain silicon dependencies are required.
Source: Noah Wire Services
