Mobileye partners Nio to introduce L4 autonomous cars in China and beyond

Mobileye, an Intel company, and Chinese electric carmaker Nio are engaging in a strategic collaboration on the development of highly automated and autonomous vehicles (AV) for consumer markets in China and other major territories.

As part of the planned cooperation, Nio will engineer and manufacture a self-driving system designed by Mobileye, building on its Level 4 (L4) AV kit. The self-driving system would be the first-of-its-kind, targeting consumer autonomy and engineered for automotive qualification standards, quality, cost and scale. Nio will mass-produce the system for Mobileye and also integrate the technology into its EV lines for consumer markets and for Mobileye’s driverless ride-hailing services. Nio's variants will be initial released in China, with plans to subsequently expand into other global markets.

Prof Amnon Shashua: "We are thrilled by the promise and potential of collaborating with Nio on electric autonomous vehicles, for both consumers and robotaxi fleets."

Prof. Amnon Shashua, senior vice-president Intel and president and CEO of Mobileye, said: “We are thrilled by the promise and potential of collaborating with Nio on electric autonomous vehicles, for both consumers and robotaxi fleets. We value the opportunity to bring greater road safety to China and other markets through our efforts, and look forward to Nio's support as Mobileye builds a transformational mobility service across the globe.”

The partners says the collaboration with Nio builds on Mobileye’s AV leadership and its ability to deliver a new era of transportation for drivers and passengers in China and other markets. With Nio serving as its manufacturing partner, Mobileye’s self-driving system will be accessible to mass markets, further extending the reach of its AV innovation to automotive customers on a global scale. The agreement also marks the first large-scale automaker partner supplying vehicles to Mobileye, as the company builds a global commercial robotaxi fleet that adapts to the mobility needs of the 21st century. The service would help reduce pollution and congestion, while enhancing safety and transit quality, in urban settings around the world.

Under the planned collaboration, Mobileye will provide Nio with the design of the self-driving system building on the Mobileye AV Series, a L4 AV kit comprised of the Mobileye EyeQ system-on-chip, hardware, driving policy, safety software and mapping solution. Nio will take on the automotive-grade engineering, integration and mass-production of Mobileye’s system for both consumer automotive markets and for Mobileye’s mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) applications. In addition to integrating the self-driving system into its vehicle lines, Nio will develop a specially configured variant of electric AVs that Mobileye will use as robotaxis, deployed for ride-hailing services in global markets.

William Li, founder, chairman and CEO, Nio said: “Nio aspires to be the next-generation car company and a user enterprise. We see electric vehicles as the starting point and the fabric that connects and strengthens communities. Working with Mobileye to enhance the safety and capabilities of our vehicles is in line with our vision to offer premium smart electric vehicles and shape a joyful lifestyle.”

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