Honda Explores Collaboration with Huawei for Smart Driving Solutions
Japanese auto giant Honda is reportedly in talks with Chinese tech giant Huawei to collaborate on smart driving solutions for its new EV brand called Ye. According to a report from local media outlet 36kr, Honda is considering using Huawei’s smart driving technology on its Ye brand vehicles in China.
The possibility of offering models under the Ye brand with both Honda Sensing 360+ and Huawei’s smart driving solution is being explored, as per sources close to the matter cited in the report.
Honda officially introduced its Ye brand in China on April 6, 2024, marking its third brand in the country focused on the EV market after e:N and Lingxi. The Ye brand aims to cater to the needs of Chinese customers and will be based on the all-electric Architecture W architecture, as announced by Honda earlier.
The initial lineup of Ye brand vehicles includes the Ye P7, Ye S7, and Ye GT, with plans for Ye P7 and Ye S7 to hit the market by the end of 2024 and Ye GT to start production in 2025. However, the launches of Ye P7 and Ye S7 have been delayed until the first quarter of 2025 due to marketing, communications, and smart technology issues, according to insiders.
Autonomous driving technology is challenging to commercialize quickly, particularly due to regulations, which is why the Ye brand is considering integrating Huawei’s smart driving solution. The brand’s supplier list includes CATL, Huawei, and iFlytek, with the smart cockpit featuring AR-HUD display technology developed in collaboration with Huawei.
In a highly competitive NEV market in China, many automotive brands are turning to Huawei’s technology for a competitive edge. By incorporating Huawei’s smart driving solution, Honda aims to enhance its intelligence capabilities swiftly.
Despite facing tough competition from local EV manufacturers, Honda is determined to establish a presence in the Chinese NEV market. The company’s joint ventures, Dongfeng Honda and GAC Honda, have recently launched NEV plants in Wuhan and Guangzhou, respectively, with an annual capacity of 120,000 units each.
In the January-November period, Honda’s vehicle sales in China declined by 30.7% year-on-year, totaling 740,399 units. The company is eyeing a comeback in the NEV segment with strategic partnerships and technological advancements.
This article was originally published by Phate Zhang on CnEVPost, a leading source for new energy vehicle news from China.
