German automotive components manufacturer ZF Group and Chinese technology firm Horizon Robotics announced that they plan to launch a jointly developed advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) for the Chinese market, with mass production scheduled for 2026.
ZF confirmed that the new ADAS system will support up to SAE Level 3 automated driving and will feature China’s urban “Navigation on Autopilot” (NOA). It will initially be applied to a battery electric vehicle (BEV) platform produced by an unnamed Chinese vehicle manufacturer.
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ZF hailed the move as a significant breakthrough in its localisation strategy in China in the field of intelligent driving. The ZF ProAI automotive-grade computing platform will feature Horizon Robotics’ Journey 6P processing hardware, with a computing power of up to 1,000+ TOPS – enough for “full-scenario assisted driving.”
ZF said that the ZF ProAI offers “industry-leading efficiency in support of the ‘Transformer’ neural network architecture and furthermore empowers the seamless handling of advanced large models, including Vision Language Models (VLM), Vision Language Action (VLA), and end-to-end models. The system fully supports high-speed driving assistance, urban driving assistance, automatic parking functions, and end-to-end full-scenario driving assistance functions from parking lot to parking lot, enabling a safer, more convenient, and intelligent driving experience for users.”
ZF further explained that “as an automotive-grade central computer, the ZF ProAI features all-scenario adaptability. Thanks to its scalable and modular core design, ProAI can be configured individually and as required for all vehicle classes, types, and architectures.”
Dr Christian Brenneke, head of ZF’s Electronics & ADAS division, said in a statement: ““China is an innovation ‘homeroom’ and ‘gym’ for the global automotive industry and is also ZF’s most important strategic automotive market. Close cooperation with Horizon Robotics and Chinese-branded automakers allows us to more accurately grasp market trends, integrate globally leading technologies with local application scenarios, and provide customers with high-value products that combine technological advancement and market adaptability.”
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By GlobalDataDr. Yu Kai, founder and CEO of Horizon Robotics, added: “ZF has profound expertise and resources in the fields of chassis, electronics and ADAS. By deepening our strategic cooperation with ZF, we will contribute our local innovations to the global industrial chain. This allows us to leverage the synergy of global resources, enabling intelligent driving to benefit consumers in China and around the world more quickly. This collaboration can not only accelerate breakthroughs in next-generation intelligent driving but also promote the adoption of intelligent driving functions across a wider range of vehicles and markets, transforming intelligent mobility from ‘exclusive’ to ‘inclusive’.”
