BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese technology company Huawei unveiled a new brand of intelligent driving software on Wednesday, marking its latest step towards becoming a major player in the electric vehicle industry.
The new Qiankun brand, which symbolizes the combination of paradise and the Kunlun Mountains, plans to introduce self-driving systems including chassis, audio system and driver’s seat, Jin Yuzhi, general manager of Huawei’s Intelligent Automotive Solution (IAS) business unit, said during an event ahead of the Beijing Auto Show. .
“2024 will be the first year of mass commercialization of smart driving, and the cumulative number of cars on the road equipped with Huawei self-driving system will exceed 500,000 by the end of the year,” Jin said.
The Shenzhen-headquartered technology conglomerate launched a smart car division in 2019 with the goal of becoming the equivalent of German auto supplier Bosch in the smart electric vehicle era and supplying software and components to partners.
Huawei said in November that the division would be spun off into a new company that would receive the division’s core technology and resources and also accept investment from partners such as automaker Changan Auto.