China's Horizon Robotics aims to provide completely hands-free driving within three years.

      A Volkswagen ID.4 crossover equipped with the Horizon SuperDrive advanced driver assistance system was showcased in Shanghai on Monday, January 13, 2025. Credit: Horizon Robotics.

      Horizon Robotics from China is optimistic about contributing to a future of self-driving vehicles, predicting that hands-off driving systems could become available within three years. This would be followed by the widespread implementation of eyes-off driving functions two years later, with full autonomy expected around 2035, according to founder and CEO Yu Kai, who spoke to journalists in Shanghai on Monday. Yu, a well-known deep learning expert in China, believes that these hands-off, eyes-off semi-autonomous systems, referred to as Level 3 (L3) in the industry, will provide drivers with temporary relief to take control of the steering wheel only in critical situations. He also expressed his belief that a fully autonomous, "minds-off" driving experience could be realized within the next decade.

      These remarks coincide with Horizon's announcement on Monday regarding its full-stack automated driving solution, Horizon SuperDrive, which is set to begin mass delivery with a Chinese automaker in the third quarter of this year. More information about this partnership will be shared later in the year.

      The system employs a single neural network for training sensor data and producing control actions, a method known as end-to-end learning, which aims to enable urban autonomous navigation in all major Chinese cities upon delivery, according to the company. The SuperDrive driver assistance system integrates various sensors, including cameras, radar, and lidar, and does not depend on high-precision mapping, facilitating a broader deployment for Horizon.

      On Monday, TechNode had the chance to experience a ride in a Volkswagen electric crossover powered by Journey 6, Horizon's next-generation automotive computing solution, during a 30-minute journey through downtown Shanghai. On a bright afternoon, the system operated without intervention over an eight-kilometer (five-mile) route that included urban roads and single carriageways filled with various vehicles, as well as pedestrians and tourists.

      During the test drive, the system demonstrated a proactive yet cautious approach, skillfully navigating narrow roads and busy traffic in the Jing’an district, an older part of the city. It maintained a safe distance from the vehicle in front to prevent sudden interruptions while patiently allowing pedestrians to cross, leading to a generally smooth driving experience. The system's ability to execute U-turns at unusual intersections was particularly noteworthy.

      Founded a decade ago by Yu, who previously directed Baidu’s Institute of Deep Learning and NEC Labs America (part of Japan’s NEC Corporation), Horizon has garnered substantial support from notable backers like VW, BYD, HongShan Capital, and Hillhouse Investment. As reported by Reuters, the Beijing-based tech unicorn raised $696 million last October in Hong Kong's largest initial public offering (IPO) of the year. The company stated that over five million vehicles have utilized its technologies as of last year, with an additional 100 new models slated to incorporate its Journey 6 hardware in the coming years.

      Jill Shen is a technology reporter based in Shanghai, covering topics related to Chinese mobility, autonomous vehicles, and electric cars. She can be contacted via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @jill_shen_sh.