[240719] #WeRide #Tesla #Hyundai

1. ECARX delivers autonomous driving ADAS platform to global car manufacturers

• ECARX Holdings Inc. announced new ADAS-enabled products, starting with the ECARX Skyland Pro.
• Mass production of the ECARX ADAS platform has begun.
• ECARX Skyland Pro features dual SoC architecture with high performance and safety, using two Black Sesame Huashan-2 A1000 SoCs.
• Provides 116 tera operations per second (TOPS) at 8-bit integer (INT8), supporting L2+ advanced driving and parking.
• Includes bird’s-eye view perception algorithms, a 5R10V sensor configuration, and over-the-air updates for additional features.
• ADAS features include automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, and electronic stability control.
• Achieved high scores in China – New Car Assessment Program (C-NCAP) preliminary testing.
• Combines SoC architecture with BlackBerry’s QNX and AUTOSAR platforms for robust safety.
• Offers end-to-end testing, validation, and toolchain to shorten R&D cycles and ensure reliability.
• Upcoming ECARX Skyland will be a single SoC solution for broader OEM needs, enabling L2+ ADAS scenarios.
• ECARX Skyland will integrate a single Huashan-2 A1000 SoC, providing 58 TOPS and a 5R6V sensor configuration, with over 20 ADAS features.
• Mass production of ECARX Skyland Pro and Antora 1000 Pro platforms has started.
• ECARX aims to deliver comprehensive automotive intelligence solutions, merging performance and security for advanced ADAS capabilities.

2. WeRide is approved to launch airport highway autonomous driving toll service in Beijing, and reservations can be made within 3 days

• WeRide received approval for commercialization of autonomous driving travel services in Beijing’s intelligent connected vehicle policy pilot zone.
• The service will operate between Beijing Daxing International Airport Terminal and Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone.
• Users can book rides through the WeRide Go App, selecting from 242 boarding and alighting stations.
• The app allows users to view vehicle dynamics, estimated fares in real-time, and pay via WeChat.
• Reservations must be made within 3 days through the WeRide Go App.
• Transfer times are from 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next day.
• Specific pick-up and drop-off locations at Daxing International Airport are designated.
• On the same day, Pony.ai launched a toll-free autonomous driving service for Daxing Airport.
• Pony.ai’s service uses a “one-price” mechanism for urban services, with no additional highway tolls.
• Reservations for Pony.ai can be made one day in advance through their app, covering over 1,000 stops in the Yizhuang area.

3. Tesla Semi Spotted Testing LiDAR Sensors Near Gigafactory Nevada

• A Tesla Semi equipped with LiDAR sensors was spotted near Gigafactory Nevada, indicating potential testing of driver-assist systems.
• The sighting suggests Tesla is conducting preliminary research on the Semi’s driver assistance capabilities.
• The video of the Tesla Semi with an extensive sensor suite on its roof gained significant attention on the r/teslamotors subreddit.
• LiDAR sensors, previously criticized by Elon Musk, are being used to collect and verify vision data for training machine learning models.
• The Tesla Semi currently does not feature Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (FSD) but includes active safety features for traction and stability.
• Tesla Semi’s all-electric nature and advanced safety features make it an appealing option for fleet owners.
• The addition of Autopilot and FSD could significantly enhance the Tesla Semi’s capabilities and disrupt the trucking industry.

4. Hyundai Motor to set up software R&D center in Silicon Valley

• Hyundai Motor Group will establish a software research center in Silicon Valley to focus on software-defined vehicles (SDVs).
• The center aims to attract top engineers from US Big Tech companies in Northern California.
• It will focus on technology to be used in the next five to ten years.
• Song Chang-hyeon, head of Hyundai’s software center and advanced vehicle platform (AVP) business, leads the project.
• Hyundai’s autonomous driving technology subsidiary, 42dot Inc., has already started hiring engineers in Mountain View, California.
• Hyundai views software as critical for the future of the auto industry, likening cars to “moving smartphones.”
• SDVs are equipped with smart operating systems, infotainment systems, and autonomous driving algorithms.
• Competition in the SDV sector is intensifying, with leaders like BYD, Tesla, and Huawei developing automotive software.
• The global SDV market is projected to grow significantly, reaching $419.7 billion by 2028.
• Hyundai is among a few automakers with their own OSs but lags behind companies like Tesla, BYD, and Xiaomi in infotainment and self-driving tech.
• Hyundai executives were reportedly impressed by the software technology of Chinese EV makers at the Shanghai auto show.
• The Silicon Valley research center is expected to transform Hyundai’s R&D efforts, integrating new technologies at its Namyang R&D Center in South Korea.

5. INAVI Systems completes ADAS mapping for autonomous driving

• INAVI Systems’ ADAS maps are essential for Level 2+ and Level 3 autonomous driving systems.
• These maps provide detailed information such as road slope, curvature, elevation, and speed limits, enhancing autonomous driving capabilities.
• The maps cover the entire nation’s motorways, urban highways, expressways, and arterial roads with over 10 times the precision of existing maps.
• INAVI ADAS Maps include speed limit information for all roads with two lanes or more, totaling 130,000 km nationwide.
• The maps support the Intelligent Speed Limiter (ISA) feature, mandatory in the EU for new cars since July 2020.
• INAVI Systems uses Thinkware’s AI black box to collect and update map data in real-time, maintaining accuracy and safety.
• CEO Seung Deuk-young Sung emphasized the company’s market competitiveness through its ADAS map technology.
• INAVI Systems is preparing to offer integrated services with HD maps and proposing SD ADAS and HD ADAS integrated maps to automakers and related service companies.