Continental and Horizon Robotics partner to accelerate self-driving cars in China
German tech company Continental and AI computing platform specialists Horizon Robotics have established a new joint venture in China in a bid to accelerate the commercialisation of automotive AI technology and autonomous vehicles.
The new company will focus on providing hardware and software integrated solutions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and automated driving, and will employ around 200 people.
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The two companies have already been working together for several years, with Continental set to become the majority shareholder for their new venture.
The companies said that the target of the JV is to integrate Horizon Robotics’ processors and algorithms in smart cameras and control units for ADAS and Automated Driving from Continental and to give Horizon Robotics a global reach and manufacturing footprint for its technology. It will serve the Chinese market as well as international OEMs globally.
“We highly respect the focus and speed with which our partner Horizon Robotics is driving forward automotive AI technology. This approach to innovation is what the market needs. By forming a Joint Venture with our new partner, we can leverage a powerful combination of cutting-edge AI technology and the longstanding manufacturing and quality process expertise with best-in-class and affordable products”, said Frank Petznick, head of the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems business unit at Continental.
Kai Yu, founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics, added: "The automobile industry has fully entered the intelligent stage. Being in the centre of the stadium, only by embracing new thinking, innovative mentality and an open mind can we seize the opportunity of industrial transformation."
“Continental has a century-old history and continues to lead the innovation and upgrading of the global automotive industry. And Horizon Robotics has a deep accumulation of artificial intelligence technology and the ultimate local service. We two parties establish a joint venture company to create a brand-new industrial cooperation model and will work together to become the firm implementer and practitioner of the industrialisation of smart cars.”
Continental has also recently announced a new organisational structure as well as a new name - Automotive Technologies group sector to be comprehensively realigned according to strategic action fields. The new structure will come into effect from January 1, 2022, with a new management team.
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The German company, which is set to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2021, has set itself a new strategic course to respond to the profound structural transformation in the mobility industry by reducing complexity and increasing speed and transparency, once again demonstrating its ability to adapt to the market changes.
“We are pooling our expertise, particularly when it comes to software. This will benefit our customers. As a result, I firmly believe we will emerge as winners from the transformation of the mobility industry,” said Continental CEO Setzer, explaining the reasons for the structural changes.
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