by Volkswagen is preparing a Level 3 autonomous driving system for China as early as next year. Horizon Robotics provides the basic artificial intelligence models for the new stack. Seven new energy vehicles will receive updates to L2++ in urban conditions later this year.
Volkswagen plans to launch Level 3 autonomous driving in China
Volkswagen’s driver assistance technologies in the West have never been class leaders, but in China the company plans to introduce Level 3 autonomous driving in production vehicles in the second half of 2027. Level 3 means the car takes over control under certain conditions, and the driver is no longer a constant backup — something no VW-branded model in Europe or North America can do today.
Collaboration with Horizon Robotics
The German automaker is working with the Chinese company Horizon Robotics to realize this plan. They run a joint venture called Carizon, and through a strengthened agreement between the companies, Horizon’s basic AI model capabilities will be used to develop and accelerate the creation of an advanced AI driving solution for VW.
New AI driving model
The automaker’s unified AI driving model will be trained to perform end-to-end driving tasks. Thanks to Horizon’s technologies, the system will be better able to predict the behavior of other road users, creating a safer and more reliable system.
Integration into the CEA architecture
This driving stack will be integrated into Volkswagen’s Chinese Electronic Architecture (CEA), the first locally developed zonal electronic and electrical architecture. This will allow adding complex automated driving functions to multiple model lines not only in China but also in the “Global South,” according to VW representatives.
Current and future ADAS systems
The L2+ ADAS system from Carizon is already used in several VW models sold in China, including the ID. Unyx 07 and ID. Unyx 06, with highway autopilot and parking memory functions. The L2++ version will appear later this year, expanding autopilot to urban conditions. It will be intended for seven new VW energy vehicles on the Chinese market.
“China has become one of the key innovation and technology hubs for the Volkswagen Group, especially in the areas of software, artificial intelligence, and automated driving,” said VW Group CEO Oliver Blume. “Our deepened cooperation within CARIZON further strengthens our ability to develop and scale AI solutions for automated driving.”
This move demonstrates how Volkswagen is adapting to the unique demands of the Chinese market, where autonomous driving technologies are developing faster than in many other regions. Collaboration with local tech giants such as Horizon Robotics allows the German concern not only to catch up but also to potentially outpace competitors in this segment. Expanding these technologies to the markets of the “Global South” could be an important strategic step for VW, allowing them to offer advanced driver assistance systems in regions where infrastructure and regulatory norms may be less stringent than in Europe or the United States.
