Volkswagen Unveils AI‑Driven Level 2+ ADAS for China
Volkswagen Group is fast‑tracking technological leadership in China through its “In China, for China” strategy and will debut its first proprietary AI‑powered automated‑driving system at Auto Shanghai. Tailored to China’s intricate traffic, the self-learning software runs on a high-performance System-on-Chip that reacts instantly to varied situations, guaranteeing seamless and exceptionally safe journeys. A Volkswagen-branded model equipped with this technology is expected to reach Chinese roads by the end of the year. From next year, it will be rolled out on the Compact Main Platform, bringing advanced autonomy to budget-conscious compact car buyers.
The launch strengthens Volkswagen’s in-house expertise in high-demand technologies among Chinese motorists: one in four new cars already features Level 2 highway assistance, and analysts expect more than 80 per cent to use Level 2+ by 2030, with Level 2++ city-and-motorway capability installed in three-quarters of new vehicles.
Formed in November 2023, CARIZON combines Volkswagen’s CARIAD software arm with Horizon Robotics. Over 500 engineers in Beijing and Shanghai have accelerated the development of the new system. Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen AG Board Member for China, notes that the locally engineered solution sets a new benchmark for performance, safety, and quality by combining global expertise with Chinese innovation.
At its core lies GAIA, CARIZON’s big-data AI platform, which collects two terabytes of data per vehicle daily and logs more than 100,000 kilometres of testing every day. GAIA processes data six times faster than conventional platforms and reduces AI verification cycles to one-twentieth of their previous length, enabling the rapid generation and validation of hundreds of thousands of real-world scenarios, thereby trimming costs and ensuring unrivalled reliability.
CARIZON Chief Executive Marcus Hafkemeyer confirms that Level 2+ ADAS enters series production this year, followed by Level 2++ Urban Navigate on Autopilot in 2026, laying the groundwork for swift advancement to Level 3 autonomy. Simultaneously, Volkswagen is strengthening local capabilities in e-mobility, digitalisation, and intelligent driving, thereby accelerating decision-making to meet China’s dynamic market.
Auto Shanghai 2025 will showcase this transformation when Audi and Volkswagen present a new generation of smart electric vehicles developed exclusively for Chinese customers. Volkswagen Group plans to introduce more than 20 electric and electrified new‑energy models by 2027 and around 30 fully electric models by 2030, underscoring its commitment to lead China’s burgeoning intelligent‑electric‑vehicle sector.