German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife experienced Volkswagen's latest intelligent driving technology during their state visit to China, according to Chinese auto media outlet PCauto. On October 27, the presidential couple visited Volkswagen (China) Technology Co. in Hefei, Anhui province, where they tested two electric models equipped with a full-scenario ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) developed by CARIZON, a joint venture between Volkswagen and Chinese AI company Horizon Robotics.
The two vehicles on display were the FAW-Volkswagen ID. AURA T6 and SAIC Volkswagen ID. ERA 5X, both powered by Horizon's Journey 6H chip and HSD AI foundation model. Horizon founder and CEO Yu Kai attended the event and briefed the president on the collaboration, later sharing the news on his Weibo account. Yu described the partnership as a successful example of combining Chinese technology with German engineering precision.
From Strategy to Production
Horizon and Volkswagen first established a strategic partnership in 2022, followed by the creation of the CARIZON joint venture in 2023. Since 2026, the cooperation has moved into a mass-production phase. According to PCauto, CARIZON's full-scenario ADAS solution has been rolling out since the third quarter of this year across seven new electric models from Volkswagen's three joint ventures in China.
In July, the two companies further expanded their collaboration to deepen work on AI foundation models, aiming to accelerate progress toward L3 and L4 autonomous driving. The visit underscores the growing importance of China as a hub for automotive software and intelligent driving innovation, even as geopolitical tensions affect other sectors.
For Volkswagen, partnering with local tech firms like Horizon is part of a broader strategy to catch up in China's fiercely competitive EV market, where domestic brands lead in smart features. The German automaker has been investing heavily in local R&D, with the Hefei facility serving as a key center for developing China-specific technologies.
The presidential experience highlights how Chinese-developed ADAS is becoming a selling point for international brands in the world's largest auto market. It also reflects the increasing integration of Chinese tech into global automotive supply chains.
