Premium electric car brand Zeekr, which is owned by China’s Geely Holding Group who also owns Lotus, Polestar and Volvo, will collaborate with Mobileye to expand their strategic technology partnership to deliver the world’s first consumer autonomous vehicles with Level 4 (L4) capabilities by 2024.
Vehicles with L4 capabilities are those that can carry out all driving tasks under most conditions without the need for any driver interaction in most circumstances. However, a human still has the option to manually override if necessary.
This partnership brings 35-plus years of automotive research and development and manufacturing expertise from Geely, with Zeekr’s ambition to provide an industry leading autonomous driving solution for its users. Zeekr launched their 001 electric car in China last year and it has been an instant hit.
The new electric vehicle (EV) will feature Geely’s SEA architecture’s true redundant braking, steering and power. Under an Open EyeQ concept, 6xEyeQ5 system-on-chips (SoCs) will power integration of Zeekr’s proprietary software technologies together with Mobileye True Redundancy sensing, Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS)-based driving policy and a new open collaboration model on REM mapping technology.
Zeekr and Mobileye’s partnership expands on the companies’ long-term strategic technology partnership. This includes the development of advanced ADAS with enhanced capabilities for a variety of Zeekr models.
The joint efforts are supported by open collaboration with technologies including REM, as Zeekr and Mobileye work toward achieving a safer and more sophisticated future on the roads.
Andy An, Zeekr Intelligent Technology CEO, said: “Mobileye has been a strategic partner to our mission of delivering lifestyle vehicles fit for a more sustainable and autonomous future of transportation.
“Our partnership supports Zeekr and Mobileye’s shared ambitions for leading the global ADAS and AV industry. Zeekr welcomes open collaboration that enables the integration of technological expertise to create a more sophisticated autonomous mobility experience for our customers.”
Prof. Ammon Shashua, Mobileye CEO and president, said: “The broadening scope of our partnership reflects just how closely Mobileye and Zeekr are aligned on the vision for future mobility.
“Zeekr’s confidence in Mobileye as a technology partner demonstrates our ability to execute against joint goals and further solidify our industry leadership.”