autonomous driving

NIO’s Chief Technology Planning Expert, Hu Chengchen, has departed the company. Initial reports linked his departure to chip development, citing a user-generated Baidu Baike entry. However, NIO’s Assistant VP of Brand and Communication clarified that Hu was not involved in chip development, but rather the company’s long-term technology roadmap. This comes as NIO rolls out its in-house World Model and its NX9031 intelligent driving chip, which a company executive stated contributed to increased profit margins.

Huawei’s Eric Xu predicts a surge in 5G-connected car adoption in China, reaching 30% of new passenger vehicle sales by 2025 and 95% by 2030. He differentiates between connectivity approaches for the cockpit (B2C) and telematics (B2B). Recognizing challenges like IPR and pricing, Xu urges industry collaboration, with Huawei and GSMA playing key roles in resolving them.

In 2025, Elon Musk advocated for AI, digital neural networks, and cameras as the optimal solution for autonomous driving, emphasizing that the world’s road systems are designed for visual perception. He views lidar as problematic for safety, while opposing voices from companies such as Huawei champion lidar technology for its safety benefits. The article highlights the limitations of lidar in terms of weather sensitivity and information density compared to high-resolution cameras.

Pony.ai is accelerating its Robotaxi ambitions, beginning public road testing of its seventh-generation autonomous vehicles in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China. Built on GAC’s Aion V model, the Gen-7 system boasts automotive-grade components, reduced costs, and versatile design. With advanced sensors and the “PonyWorld” model, the company aims for full-scenario operation. Strategic partnerships and over 45 million kilometers of testing position Pony.ai for mass production and a fleet exceeding 1,000 vehicles by the end of 2025.

Xiaomi’s founder, Lei Jun, revealed strategic updates, hinting at a transformed approach to the EV market. The YU7 model’s pricing deviates from initial speculations. Xiaomi aims for automotive division profitability as early as Q3/Q4, driven by technological innovation. The company invests heavily in AD and chip design to boost competitiveness. Robotics are also making progress, while Xiaomi maintains a 5% profit margin on hardware, signaling disruption in the competitive landscape.

At the 2025 Future Automotive Pioneers Conference, Huawei’s Richard Yu outlined the company’s automotive vision. Key takeaways include Huawei’s strong brand appeal, leading autonomous driving tech, premium AITO brand positioning, and advances in smart cockpits. Yu also emphasized Huawei’s compliance with national standards, cautioned against flawed industry practices, and criticized relying on the lowest performing benchmarks. He highlighted the need for true innovation over hype.

A viral video of Huawei’s Richard Yu in an AITO M8, appearing momentarily distracted while driving, has sparked debates on autonomous vehicle safety and driver responsibility. Captured in Beijing on May 26, the footage shows a bystander questioning Yu’s alertness, prompting mixed social media reactions—some defending his workload, others speculating about technology testing. Analysts link the incident to Huawei’s push in China’s competitive EV market, where its cars claimed 12% of Q1 2024 new energy sales. Amid warnings from safety experts about required driver supervision for ADAS systems, the publicity may benefit Huawei’s automotive division, projected to see 40% revenue growth to $2.8 billion this year.

In Q1 2025, WeRide reported RMB72.44 million ($10.1M) revenue and a 35% gross margin, with Robotaxi revenue surging 22.3% to RMB16.1M. The company expanded its Uber partnership, securing a $100M strategic investment and launching a $100M share buyback. Milestones included France’s first fully driverless permit, licenses across five countries, and an autonomous minibus pilot in Spain with Renault. Domestically, it tested Robovan W5 in Guangzhou’s smart city hub and launched a 24/7 autonomous ride-hailing network. The CFO emphasized scalable tech and global growth, as analysts highlighted WeRide’s dual regulatory-commercial strategy targeting a projected $2 trillion autonomous mobility market by 2040.