The agreement will focus on creating what is called Level 4 technology. The Society of Automotive Engineers defines this as a car that completely drives itself within a specific area. This new deal is just the latest in a long line of similar partnerships between car companies and tech companies in the move toward creating truly autonomous vehicles. Details of the agreement were not announced. However the deal should help Audi to do tests on autonomous vehicles in China.
Huawei did show off an Audi Q7 outfitted with the technology company's Mobile Data Center(MDC) rig at its Connect 2018 conference just this week. The MDC is reported to consist of a number of AI chips, a central CPU, cameras, and LIDAR. It sits on the car roof. Huawei is also to work with Audi on vehicle-to-vehicle communication and connected car solutions. See the appended video.
China has relaxed its rules on foreign ownership
For many years China has required foreign automakers to partner in joint ventures with local companies if they want to manufacture cars in the country. However, earlier this year the government announced plans to relax the rules so the automotive manufacturing landscape in China is changing.
Tesla to open wholly owned factory in Shanghai
In an earlier article
the Verge announced: "Tesla has signed a “cooperative agreement” with the Shanghai Municipal Government to build its third Gigafactory and the first in China, the company announced today. Tesla says it aims to be able to make 500,000 cars per year there in what is the biggest market for electric vehicles in the world, though the company says it will be a while before the factory is up and running."
However, the Chinese government is still strictly guiding Western car companies. It strictly controls permits required to test self-driving vehicles, as well as licences that allow companies to make digital maps of the country's roads. This restriction has led major car companies such as Daimler, Ford, and BMW to partner with Baidu which has the ability to do both.
The Chinese government regards a free market approach to be a security risk. It does not want detailed maps of China's roads and other data in the hands of foreign countries. Similar fears abound in the west as well. Earlier this year the US in effect banned government employees and contractors from using Huawei handsets or components.
Audi's work on self-driving cars
Since September Audi has reportedly been testing cars with Huawei and is planning to open an autonomous vehicle development center in China next year. Audi has developed its own Level 3 system it calls Traffic Jam Pilot, which allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel and eyes off the road while the car handles all the driving in most situations.
Volkswagen, the owner of Audi, is developing level 4 and 5 complete autonomous driving with Aurora a new startup founded by the former head of Google's self-driving program.
Huawei
According to Wikipedia: "Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (/ˈhwɑːˌweɪ/; Chinese: 华为; pinyin: About this sound Huáwéi) is a Chinese multinational networking, telecommunications equipment, and services company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong.[3] It is the largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer in the world, having overtaken Ericsson in 2012.[4] In 2018, Huawei became 72nd of Fortune Global 500 in Fortune Magazine.[5] As of 2018, Huawei is the second largest smartphone manufacturer in the world behind Samsung.[6]"
Huawei, as of September 2015, had over 170,000 employees. About 76,000 of them are engaged in research and development.
It has over 21 research and development institutes in many different countries. In 2017 the company invested $13.8 billion in research and development.
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