BERLIN — Volkswagen announced Wednesday that its China-based autonomous driving division, CARIZON, is expanding its collaboration with Horizon Robotics in an effort to accelerate the development of cutting-edge self-driving technology.
According to a statement from the German automaker, the goal is to begin delivering Level 3 driving capabilities — a technology that allows drivers to take their eyes off the road — in the second half of next year. Under the expanded agreement, CARIZON will gain access to Horizon’s artificial intelligence foundation model, allowing Volkswagen to more quickly develop its own AI-powered driving systems, including Level 4 capabilities intended for use in robotaxis.
Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said the partnership would “reinforce our competitiveness in China, and open up new opportunities in selected international markets.”
