GAC has changed.
In the latest news, GAC has officially announced its adoption of Huawei's latest Gan Kun ADS 3.0 autonomous driving solution.
Under its brand GAC Trumpchi, it will collaborate with Huawei to develop three vehicle models, including an MPV, an SUV, and a sedan, all positioned as large luxury flagship cars.
There was a time when GAC seemed to have lost interest, abruptly announcing the termination of the GAC Aion project that was originally in partnership with Huawei, downgrading Huawei's role to that of a mere supplier.
Now, they have reconciled.
GAC Trumpchi adopts Huawei's latest autonomous driving solution
GAC Trumpchi and Huawei recently held a development cooperation kickoff meeting at the GAC Research Institute.
The announcement is that GAC Group's new vehicle models will be equipped with Huawei's Qiankun ADS 3.0 intelligent driving system.
This Qiankun ADS 3.0 is Huawei's newly released next-generation intelligent driving system.
Huawei's ADS 2.0 has already undergone market validation, and the newly released 3.0 version further upgrades in terms of technology and capabilities.
Technically, Qiankun ADS 3.0 abandons BEV and fully utilizes GOD network, which stands for General Obstacle Detection network. The system, based on information collected by sensors, can directly understand the driving scenario.
Additionally, after the data is processed by the GOD network, it is further handled by the PDP network (Predictive Decision Planning) which encompasses decision-making and planning functions, ultimately outputting vehicle control signals.
Huawei stated that with the adoption of the new architecture, the Qiankun ADS 3.0 system will provide "more accurate decision-making, more human-like driving, and more efficient passage."
Specifically, in terms of capabilities, the collision avoidance system of Qiankun ADS 3.0 has been upgraded, with enhanced forward and lateral active safety capabilities, as well as the ability to recognize obstacles crossing the vehicle's path.
The ESA emergency steering assist can proactively steer to avoid collisions in scenarios where the AEB braking distance is insufficient or the driver's lateral avoidance steering is inadequate. It can also perform lane-change maneuvers to avoid vehicles crossing or diagonally crossing, such as cars, bicycles, and electric scooters.
Another upgraded capability is parking assistance, supporting navigation from parking space to parking space, with a 20% increase in parking speed. It can now navigate through extremely narrow parking spaces and tight aisles to park efficiently.
After using the GanKun ADS 3.0 system, users can now remotely summon their vehicles to exit parking spots and have the vehicles park themselves upon reaching the destination.
These capabilities will be featured in three large luxury flagship models from GAC Group, with the first model set to be launched and delivered in the first quarter of 2025.
Huawei's circle of friends is expanding once again.
The reason why GAC is changing is because this is not their first collaboration with Huawei.
In 2021, as Huawei's HI mode gained momentum, GAC Aion and Huawei joined forces, announcing their collaboration on a model codenamed "AH8," positioned as a mid-to-large-sized intelligent all-electric SUV, with plans for mass production by the end of 2023.
Huawei initially served as a joint developer, collaborating with GAC on the development of a new digital platform for the AH8 based on the GAC GEP3.0 chassis and Huawei's CCA (Computing and Communication Architecture).
Moreover, the AH8 will also integrate Huawei's full-stack intelligent automotive solution, including intelligent driving and intelligent cockpit features under the Huawei HI mode, offering customized cooperation for automotive enterprises.
In addition to the AH8 model, both parties will introduce an MPV and a high-end coupe.
At the time, this collaboration was seen as GAC Aion's attempt to build a high-end pure electric brand.
However, in 2023, GAC suddenly announced that the AH8 project would transition to independent research and development by GAC Aion, developing its own intelligent cockpit and intelligent driving systems, shifting Huawei's role from a joint developer to a key supplier.
The latest developments are well known: GAC Aion has gradually established itself in the forefront of the new energy vehicle market, while Huawei, through partnerships with brands like Wanjie and Avita, has spun off its Intelligent Vehicle Business Unit into an independent entity called Hongmeng Intelligent Travel, inviting a multitude of automotive giants to collaborate.
Since its inception, Hongmeng Intelligent Travel has already partnered with Chery, Changan, Jianghuai, Dongfeng, and other automakers, resulting in a continuous stream of new vehicles under the auspices of Huawei's technology.
The debut model, Zhijie, has already garnered over 20,000 orders for the first car, Zhijie S7, even before officially announcing its price; the recently unveiled Xiangjie, with its first model Xiangjie S9, has become a highlight at the Beijing Auto Show; and the model developed in collaboration with Jianghuai is claimed by officials to surpass the likes of Maybach and Rolls-Royce Phantom...
Huawei has undeniably made a hit with its smart cars, showcasing its expertise, popularity, and buzz. Meanwhile, traditional car manufacturers struggling with slow transformation might find a new lease on life with external support.
Recognizing this, GAC Group's Trumpchi brand first collaborated with the HarmonyOS ecosystem, and now they are taking it a step further by integrating cutting-edge autonomous driving capabilities.
It remains to be seen what sparks will fly from the renewed collaboration between GAC and Huawei.
