Gasgoo Munich- On 12 October, during the Paris Motor Show, JAECOO and Momenta completed the first zero-takeover L2++ challenge at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
Xiaohong Hou, Managing Director of Chery Europe R&D Center GmbH, Peter Matkin, CTO of Chery Europe R&D Center GmbH, and Dr Qing Rao, Chief Solution Architect at Momenta, took part in the challenge aboard a JAECOO 7 test vehicle equipped with the Momenta R7 World Model, taking on the Arc de Triomphe's "World's Most Challenging Roundabout" to showcase the intelligent driver assistance experience the two companies are jointly developing for Europe. The vehicle remains in the testing and validation phase.
JAECOO and Momenta said they completed a zero-takeover L2++ driving challenge at the Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 12, during the Paris Motor Show. The JAECOO 7 test vehicle was equipped with Momenta's R7 World Model. The vehicle remains in testing and validation.
Image source: Momenta
Key Takeaways
The approximately 11.38-kilometre driving route began in La Défense, crossed the Seine, passed through Neuilly-sur-Seine and continued through the Arc de Triomphe roundabout and surrounding neighbourhoods. It covered roads without lane markings, a roundabout where 12 avenues converge, the unconventional "priority to the right" rule, traffic merging from multiple directions, roadworks diversions, and interactions with pedestrians and cyclists.
- The approximately 11.38-kilometre route included the Arc de Triomphe roundabout, roads without lane markings, roadworks and interactions with pedestrians and cyclists.
After officially entering the French market in April this year, the brand reached 2,589 new vehicle registrations in September, just six months later, with a market share of 1.6%. Meanwhile, the JAECOO 7 topped the rankings as the UK's best-selling car in September, reflecting growing recognition of JAECOO among European consumers.
- JAECOO reported 2,589 French vehicle registrations and a 1.6% market share in September. The company also said the JAECOO 7 was the UK's best-selling car that month.
OMODA & JAECOO's European R&D network includes centres in Spain, France and Germany, with a UK R&D centre scheduled to open in late autumn 2026, supporting product development tailored to European customer needs.
- OMODA & JAECOO said a UK R&D centre is scheduled to open in late autumn 2026.
Image source: Momenta
The Arc de Triomphe route
At the Arc de Triomphe roundabout, twelve avenues converge on a roadway with no clear lane markings. Unlike many conventional roundabouts, vehicles already circulating must give way to those entering from the right. With traffic crossing paths and available space constantly changing, the vehicle must judge when to yield and when to proceed while choosing a path towards its intended exit.
The roundabout has no clear lane markings, and traffic already circulating must yield to vehicles entering from the right. The vehicle therefore had to assess gaps in crossing traffic and select a path to its intended exit.
Facing these challenges, the JAECOO 7 and Momenta yielded smoothly and adapted its path to surrounding traffic. From entering the roundabout to exiting, it navigated with composure and fluidity, demonstrating composed and fluent driving behaviour in complex European road conditions. On the surrounding streets, the vehicle handled roadworks, narrow roads and interactions with pedestrians and cyclists through natural steering, smooth deceleration and measured manoeuvres, translating its technological capabilities into a noticeably more effortless driving experience. A safety driver monitored the journey throughout and remained ready to take control whenever necessary.
JAECOO and Momenta said the vehicle adjusted its path to surrounding traffic, negotiated the roundabout and handled roadworks, narrow streets, pedestrians and cyclists. A safety driver monitored the journey and remained ready to take control.
Technology and validation
By learning physical laws, common sense and causal relationships from vast amounts of real-world driving data, the Momenta R7 World Model enhances its ability to understand the environment, predict changes and plan driving decisions. This supports stronger negotiation and decision-making in complex traffic, smarter path-selection strategies and agile navigation through narrow, complex spaces.
Momenta says its R7 World Model learns from real-world driving data to interpret the environment, anticipate changes and plan driving decisions. The company says this supports decision-making in complex traffic and path selection in narrow spaces.
While the World Model provides the foundation for understanding and reasoning about the physical world, local experience helps make driving behaviour better suited to European roads. Drawing on years of R&D and road testing in Europe, Momenta continues to refine its technology to better adapt to local traffic regulations, road conditions and driving habits.
Momenta says it is refining the technology using its European R&D and road-testing experience to adapt its driving assistance system to local regulations, road conditions and driving habits. The JAECOO 7 test vehicle remains in testing and validation ahead of a planned future introduction to European customers.
