The Frontline | Zhixing Technology will reach a cooperation with Horizon to develop a full-stack intelligent driving solution based on J6E.

36Kr has learned that Zhixing Auto Technology will reach a strategic cooperation with Horizon Robotics. The two sides will develop an intelligent driving solution based on the Journey 6E series chip of Horizon Robotics (hereinafter referred to as J6E), targeting the 100,000 - 150,000 mid-range intelligent driving market.

The J6E chip of Horizon Robotics has a single computing power of 80 TOPS and can support functions such as high-speed pilot, automatic parking, and urban memory pilot. The entire solution built based on J6E is priced below 5,000 yuan, supports passive heat dissipation, and can be used in fuel vehicles, making it a highly cost-effective solution.

Previously, industry sources said that BYD will also adopt the solutions of Orin N and Horizon Robotics' J6E next year to promote the mass production of intelligent driving functions in its Ocean Network models.

When BYD's basic models begin to be equipped with intelligent driving as standard, the involution in the intelligent electric vehicle industry will escalate once again, and intelligent driving equality will become a new industry theme. Whoever can equip intelligent driving functions on models priced between 100,000 and 150,000 yuan will become an important means to support sales.

Automakers have begun to accelerate the progress of intelligent driving, which has given new opportunities to intelligent driving solution providers.

Song Yang, the founder and CEO of Zhixing Technology, has more than 10 years of working experience at Bosch. Jiang Jingfang, the president, previously served as a senior vice president at Bosch, a senior vice president and partner at Hodo Technology, and established Hodo's mass production and delivery center. She also won the intelligent driving mass production projects of GAC and Chery. In April this year, Jiang Jingfang led several employees to join Zhixing Technology, and the two former Bosch executives joined hands again.

The rise of end-to-end has allowed intelligent driving enterprises to see the opportunity to quickly seize the market. In the past half year, Zhixing Technology has recruited a large number of algorithm talents and added a large model group, a big data group, and a model deployment group to the organizational structure. On the other hand, Zhixing Technology has begun to establish branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and other places. The positioning of the branches is mainly R & D centers, with the intention of complementing Zhixing Technology's end-to-end capabilities.

Mao Tao, the senior product director of Zhixing Technology, said that the team is currently working overtime to ensure the mass production of the project next year. "Our iDC510 in cooperation with Horizon Robotics can support high-speed pilot and automatic parking. It also supports urban pilot of the pure vision solution, and the basic functions are complete."

This is a rare opportunity for shipment growth. After Zhixing Technology switches to the domestic chip solution, the iDC series will become the main sales force. This series includes three different platforms: iDC100, iDC300, and iDC500, to meet the different levels of intelligent driving needs of automakers for automatic parking, high-speed pilot, and urban pilot. In addition, the current chip manufacturers that the iDC series domain controllers cooperate with include Horizon Robotics, Texas Instruments, and Renesas.

Public information shows that Zhixing Technology has already received fixed-points from many automakers such as Geely Automobile, Great Wall Motor, Chery Automobile, and Dongfeng Motor. In the first half of 2024, the company received 18 additional fixed-point letters from automakers.

In addition to the domestic layout, Zhixing Technology is also further expanding overseas. In October last year, Zhixing Technology successfully established a subsidiary in Germany to provide R & D support such as data compliance and quality assurance for the export of Chinese automakers, while seeking cooperation opportunities with overseas automakers.

In August this year, Zhixing Technology also signed a joint venture agreement with Hangsheng Electronics to establish a technology company focused on the integrated driving and cabin business in Suzhou. The joint venture will focus on the research and development, production, and sales of integrated driving and cabin products. The joint venture company will become a subsidiary of Zhixing Technology, and its financial performance will be consolidated into Zhixing Technology's comprehensive financial statements.

Overall, the products of Zhixing Technology are in the replacement period, the customer structure is also changing, and the company's layout is more diversified. In April this year, Zhixing Technology announced that it has received the "Fixed-Point Development Notice" issued by a well-known domestic flying car company, and will provide a software and hardware integrated autonomous driving solution with the autonomous driving domain controller iDC 500 as the core.

At present, a new round of reshuffling has begun. Whether it is more diverse businesses or more partners, intelligent driving enterprises hope to obtain more powerful chips to face the moment when the game is decided.