Gasgoo Munich- Volkswagen Group and Horizon Robotics are expanding their collaboration on AI foundation models through CARIZON, the joint venture established by Volkswagen's software unit CARIAD and the Chinese intelligent-driving technology company.
Under a white-box licensing arrangement, CARIZON will gain access to Horizon Robotics' underlying foundation-model capabilities, enabling its engineers to adapt and further develop the technology rather than integrate it solely as a closed, externally supplied system. The joint venture will use that access to accelerate the development of Volkswagen Group China's unified, in-house AI driving platform.
The expanded agreement takes the relationship beyond conventional component procurement, giving Volkswagen greater control over the technology stack while drawing on Horizon Robotics' locally developed AI capabilities.
Horizon Robotics' foundation model will be integrated with CARIZON's proprietary technology stack, including the C7H system-on-chip currently under development and the GAIA World Model data platform.
Image source: Horizon Robotics
Together, the three elements will support Volkswagen's development of Level 3 and Level 4 automated-driving systems. The platform is intended to underpin future applications in both passenger vehicles and Robotaxis while providing a common technical base for continued upgrades to Volkswagen's production ADAS.
For Level 3 applications, the system will need to take responsibility for the driving task within defined operating conditions, although the driver must remain available to resume control when requested. Level 4 technology is initially expected to support more restricted applications, including driverless mobility services.
The AI-based driving system will be closely integrated with Volkswagen's China Electronic Architecture, or CEA, the group's first locally developed zonal electrical and electronic architecture.
Connecting the automated-driving stack with a shared electronic architecture should allow Volkswagen to deploy the technology across multiple vehicle platforms without developing a separate system for every model. The group plans to use the platform broadly within its Chinese product portfolio, with selected international markets also under consideration.
The expanded partnership forms part of Volkswagen's "In China, for China" strategy, under which the automaker is localizing more of its software, electronic architecture and automated-driving development.
CARIZON delivered its first advanced driver-assistance system by the end of 2025. The technology has since been introduced on the ID. UNYX 07 and the updated ID. UNYX 06, providing functions including highway navigation-assisted driving and memory parking.
A more capable full-scenario ADAS supporting urban navigation assistance has now entered series production. Beginning in the third quarter of 2026, the system will be rolled out across seven new electrified models from Volkswagen's three Chinese joint ventures. Deployment will expand to a broader range of CEA-based products from 2027.
Volkswagen aims to begin delivering Level 3 capabilities in China as early as the second half of 2027. The timetable marks a substantial step beyond the supervised Level 2++ systems entering production today, but commercial deployment will remain subject to validation, regulatory approval and clearly defined operating conditions.
