Gasgoo Munich- On January 19, corporate registry data from Qichacha revealed that Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. has taken a stake in BotHeart (Suzhou) Technology Co., Ltd. ("BotHeart" dubbed "Xinxin Hangtu" in Chinese Pinyin), an autonomous driving chip designer. The company's registered capital increased to 18.7169 million yuan, marking a significant step in Chery's efforts to secure core hardware for intelligent driving.
Image source: Screenshot from Qichacha App
Founded in December 2023, BotHeart operates in the integrated circuit design sector, focusing on R&D for autonomous driving chips. Unlike traditional players, the startup emphasizes deep software-hardware co-design, using advanced algorithms to drive continuous innovation in chip architecture. This approach aims to optimize both the user experience and cost structures of intelligent driving systems.
The X7, the company's first solution, is a high-performance, single-core chip designed for high-level urban Navigation on Autopilot (NOA). To accommodate the industry's shift toward one-stage end-to-end large models, BotHeart developed a proprietary Neural Processing Unit (NPU) architecture for the X7. Its ultra-large core design maximizes computing speed, delivering industry-leading efficiency in software-hardware coordination.
The X7 excels in hardware compatibility and safety. Equipped with 10 Gigabit Ethernet and PCIe 4.0 interfaces, it efficiently handles massive data streams from multiple sensors. The chip also boasts robust fusion capabilities for visual and LiDAR data, ensuring reliability in adverse weather and sudden road scenarios. For security, it features a built-in ASIL-D safety MCU and has achieved both ISO 26262 ASIL-B functional safety and National Secret Level 2 information safety certifications, creating a robust safety barrier for intelligent driving operations.
This investment aligns closely with Chery's intelligentization strategy. As one of the earliest automakers to pursue intelligent connectivity, Chery has built a comprehensive R&D system. Its "Falcon Smart Driving" solution is slated to cover all models across its brands by 2025—a goal that demands substantial computing power. BotHeart's technical assets are expected to synergize with Chery's end-to-end model development and full-scenario driving requirements, accelerating the mass production of advanced intelligent driving features.
Notably, BotHeart has already completed several rounds of angel financing, backed by prominent investors including NIO Capital, SAIC-affiliated funds, and IDG Capital. With Chery now entering the fray, the company's shareholder base has further strengthened. To date, BotHeart holds 17 patents and 36 trademarks, a portfolio that underscores its recognized technical capabilities.
Industry analysts view Chery's investment as a strategic move in the autonomous driving chip sector and a critical step toward bridging the gap between automakers and chip suppliers. The partnership is expected to deepen the integration of domestic chips with vehicle intelligent driving systems, laying a solid foundation for Chery to launch high-end smart driving vehicles in global markets.
