German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife experienced two Volkswagen models equipped with advanced driver assistance technology developed by Horizon Robotics during a visit to Volkswagen's China technology center in Hefei on October 27, according to Gasgoo. The demonstration highlighted the deepening partnership between the Chinese autonomous driving company and the German automaker.
Horizon Robotics founder and CEO Yu Kai attended the event and briefed the presidential couple on the progress of the collaboration with Volkswagen. The two vehicles showcased were the FAW-Volkswagen ID.AURA T6 and SAIC Volkswagen ID.ERA5X, both fitted with a full-scenario assisted driving system created by CARIZON, the joint venture established by Volkswagen and Horizon Robotics. The system is powered by Horizon's Journey 6H chip and HSDAI foundation model, enabling advanced driver assistance features.
From R&D to Mass Production
Horizon Robotics and Volkswagen Group formalized their strategic cooperation in 2022, followed by the establishment of CARIZON in 2023. The partnership has entered a phase of mass production maturity since 2026. CARIZON's full-scenario advanced driver assistance solution has been progressively integrated into seven new electric models across three Volkswagen joint ventures in China, starting in the third quarter of this year.
In July, the two companies expanded their collaboration to include AI foundation models, with the goal of accelerating progress toward L3 and L4 autonomous driving. The joint development spans from research and development to large-scale production, combining China's AI innovation with Germany's automotive engineering heritage.
The German president's firsthand experience of the technology underscores the growing recognition of the collaboration between Horizon Robotics and Volkswagen, positioning it as a model for Sino-German industrial cooperation in the automotive sector. The event also reflects the broader trend of Chinese technology companies playing an increasingly significant role in the global automotive supply chain, particularly in the field of intelligent driving.
