The Volkswagen Group is in talks with Ecarx, the Chinese digital cockpit system developer, to integrate it’s products into its vehicles in key markets, including Europe and North America, according to Ecarx CEO Shen Ziyu.
The move aims to expand the existing partnership between the two companies, which currently sees Ecarx's technology only deployed in Volkswagen branded models in Brazil and India.
Ecarx, based in Hangzhou, is backed by Chinese auto giant Geely and has a growing presence in the automotive technology sector. The company also operates in other cities in China, including Shanghai and Beijing, and has expanded its reach internationally with operations in the U.S. and several European countries, including Germany.
Ecarx is known for its digital cockpit system, Antora 1000, which includes proprietary chips and software, offering features like voice recognition and navigation. VW and Ecarx are now considering extending their collaboration to include future models from the VW’s Skoda-brand in Europe, and launching VW branded models with Ecarx technology in North America.
The partnership reflects a broader trend within the global automotive industry, where Western automakers are increasingly turning to Chinese technology suppliers for smart driving features as they look to maintain their competitiveness.
Shen says VW’s decision to choose Ecarx over other competitors was a carefully considered process. “It took more than a year for Volkswagen to decide on the smart technology supplier among 13 other candidates that included South Korean brands, such as LG and Samsung, as well as Chinese rival Desay SV,” says Shen, who is quoted by Reuters.
The Ecarx CEO also notes the geographical factors influencing this decision, pointing out that much of the research and development in fields such as consumer electronics and semiconductors remains concentrated in Asia. “The R&D for the entire technologies of consumer electronics, including semiconductors, is still rooted in Asia,” Shen explains. “That’s the main reason why the progress of developing software capabilities in Europe is not smooth.”
WardsAuto has reach out to the Volkswagen Group for comment on Ecarx's claims of an extension to its current partnership but had not received a reply at the time of publication.
