BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese technology company Huawei unveiled a new brand of intelligent driving software on Wednesday, marking its latest bid to become a major player in the electric vehicle sector.
The new Qiankun brand, symbolizing the combination of heaven and the Kunlun Mountains, plans to provide autonomous driving systems involving the driving chassis, audio and driver’s seat, said Jin Yuzhi, CEO of the Intelligent Automotive business unit Solution (IAS) by Huawei, during an event ahead of the Beijing auto show.
“2024 will be the first year for the mass commercialization of intelligent driving, and the cumulative number of cars on the road equipped with Huawei’s autonomous driving system will exceed 500,000 by the end of the year,” Jin said.
The Shenzhen-based tech conglomerate launched its smart car unit in 2019 with the aim of becoming the equivalent of German auto supplier Bosch of the smart electric vehicle era and providing software and components to partners.
Huawei said in November that the unit will be spun off into a new company that will receive the unit’s core technologies and assets and receive investment from partners such as automaker Changan Auto.