Volkswagen China Develops In-House Advanced Driver-Assistance System

Volkswagen Group China has unveiled its first internally developed advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) designed for all driving scenarios. Dubbed HS8 (Hyper Sense 8), the system is specifically engineered to address the complexities of Chinese road conditions and diverse traffic situations.

The HS8 system is slated for deployment starting in the third quarter of 2026, initially equipping seven new models across three joint venture companies. By 2027, its integration will expand to more models, coinciding with accelerated research into L3 and L4 autonomous driving capabilities. Deliveries for L3 functionalities are anticipated to commence in the latter half of 2027.

Two configurations of the HS8 system will be available. One utilizes a pure vision solution based on Horizon Journey 6M chips, while the other incorporates lidar and is based on the Journey 6H chip. Volkswagen Group's software unit, CARIAD, and chip provider Horizon formally established their joint venture, CARIZON, in December 2023 to develop and integrate advanced driver-assistance and autonomous driving solutions.

The CARIZON joint venture aims to leverage Horizon's hardware and software expertise alongside CARIAD's experience in vehicle software system integration. This collaboration focuses on creating optimized, full-stack advanced driver-assistance systems tailored for the specific demands of the Chinese automotive market.