"China Says, 'Let Us Take the Wheel'"... Now It's the Brains Behind Luxury Marques Jeep, Peugeot and Maserati: Chinese 'Autonomous Driving' [C Shock, K-Industries on the Brink | Automobiles] 2

Momenta to Supply Driver-Assistance Systems for New Peugeot and Jeep Models
More Than 1 Million Vehicles Worldwide Equipped with Momenta Technology
Huawei in Talks with Maserati on Partnership as It Expands in Europe
Xpeng Joins UN Working Group

Chinese autonomous driving technology is being incorporated into new vehicles from Peugeot, a traditional French automaker, and Jeep, an icon of American sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Huawei technology is also being considered for Maserati, the Italian luxury car brand. China, which had targeted overseas markets with low prices and high-volume production, is now making inroads into the “brains” of global automakers. As China has risen from learning foreign technology to becoming a supplier of core technologies, South Korea’s auto industry is facing pressure not only on price and production volume but also in the autonomous driving technology race.

Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Reference image not directly related to the article. Chinese autonomous driving technology will be incorporated into new vehicles from Peugeot, a traditional French automaker, and Jeep, an icon of American sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Jeep.

According to industry sources on October 14, Chinese autonomous driving company Momenta signed a global strategic cooperation agreement last month with Shenlong Technology, jointly established by Dongfeng Motor and Stellantis Group, among others. The two companies plan to jointly develop an intelligent driver assistance system based on Momenta’s R7 “World Model” and apply it to new mass-produced Peugeot and Jeep vehicles.

A World Model is a technology in which artificial intelligence (AI) learns how the real world works to predict surrounding conditions and the movement of objects. Momenta’s strategy is to develop a range of driving technologies, from Level 2 to Level 4, using a single foundation model, and adapt them to the road conditions and traffic rules of each country. The company plans to participate from the product-planning stage and develop systems tailored to each brand’s driving characteristics. Through this partnership, Momenta will take part in developing core features for overseas automakers and gain a foothold for expanding its business into Europe and elsewhere through Stellantis’ global sales network.

A World Model is a technology in which artificial intelligence (AI) learns how the real world works to predict surrounding conditions and the movement of objects. Momenta’s strategy is to develop a range of driving technologies, from Level 2 to Level 4, using a single foundation model, and adapt them to the road conditions and traffic rules of each country. The company plans to participate from the product-planning stage and develop systems tailored to each brand’s driving characteristics. Through this partnership, Momenta will take part in developing core features for overseas automakers and gain a foothold for expanding its business into Europe and elsewhere through Stellantis’ global sales network.

Technology honed in China, headed for Mercedes-Benz and BMW

Momenta’s technology has already been adopted by several automakers. According to the company’s 2026 half-year report, as of the end of June, it had supplied autonomous driving technology for 105 mass-produced models from 26 automakers, with cumulative deployments exceeding 1 million vehicles. Vehicles equipped with its technology have been exported to 10 countries and regions, and data gathered during real-world driving has surpassed 13 billion kilometers.

Mercedes-Benz has continued its partnership with Momenta since investing in the company in 2017. More recently, the two jointly developed driver assistance technology for urban roads and highways for the new GLE. They are also working on a plan to add new driving features through over-the-air vehicle software updates.

In July, Momenta received approval from Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) to conduct Level 4 autonomous driving tests throughout Germany. Level 4 refers to a level at which a vehicle can drive itself without driver intervention under specified conditions. Momenta is also expanding its partnerships with BMW and Volkswagen Group, adapting technology developed in China for roads overseas. Its business has grown as well. Momenta’s revenue rose more than threefold, from 742.57 million yuan in 2023 to 2.41252 billion yuan last year.

Chinese companies are moving beyond supplying technology to taking part in international regulatory discussions. On October 10, Xpeng said it had been elected secretary-general of a newly established Task Force on the Exchange of Information on Automated Driving Scenarios under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) framework for harmonizing vehicle regulations.

The body shares information on road conditions and driving practices in different countries, as well as the results of safety tests for autonomous vehicles. Representing the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), Xpeng will work with the French and Chinese co-chairs and regulatory and certification bodies in various countries. In other words, the company is participating not only in technology supply but also in international discussions on verifying the safety of autonomous driving.

In July, Xpeng also tested its in-house-developed “Turing AI Driving System” in Germany. The company said it had confirmed the possibility of using the same AI model on the different road environments of China and Europe.

Huawei technology sets its sights on European luxury cars

Huawei is also being discussed as a potential entrant into the European luxury car market. Chinese automaker JAC Motors recently confirmed that it is in talks with Huawei and Stellantis about a possible three-way partnership. The specific form of cooperation has not been finalized, and no binding agreement has been signed.

One possibility being discussed in the market is for Maserati, part of Stellantis, to adopt Huawei’s advanced driver assistance system and electronic and electrical architecture, with JAC Motors handling some of the production. Maserati sold about 7,900 vehicles last year, a sharp decline from 27,000 in 2023. Some observers believe the struggling brand may seek to reduce the cost of its transition to electrification by leveraging China’s smart-car technology and manufacturing capabilities.

JAC Motors and Huawei have already jointly developed an ultra-luxury electric vehicle in China. The S800 from MAEXTRO, a premium brand developed by the two companies, is a large sedan starting at 708,000 yuan. Huawei is responsible for its design and vehicle electronics system, while JAC Motors handles production. However, the Maserati partnership is still at the discussion stage, so whether and how the technology will actually be adopted remains to be seen.

Auto competition expands to software and data

The rapid growth of China’s domestic market has enabled Chinese technology companies to partner with global automakers. China’s new energy vehicle sales rose about 12-fold, from 1.367 million in 2020 to 16.49 million in 2025. Last year, new energy vehicles accounted for 47.9% of all new vehicle sales in China.

The spread of electric vehicles and driver assistance systems has given Chinese companies more opportunities to deploy their technology on real roads and accumulate data. The Chinese government has also identified the integration of AI and automobiles, autonomous driving, and in-vehicle operating systems and software as key priorities in its plan to develop the smart connected new energy vehicle industry.

There are also potential obstacles to overseas expansion. U.S. sanctions on Huawei and regulations in different countries could affect technology supply and vehicle sales. Autonomous driving technology must also be validated to meet the road conditions, laws, and safety standards of each country.

The expansion of Chinese companies as technology suppliers to global automakers is also putting pressure on South Korea’s auto industry. As more vehicles equipped with Chinese technology hit the road, the resulting accumulation of driving data is expected to accelerate performance improvements. In addition to competing on quality and price, South Korean automakers now face the challenge of developing autonomous driving software and securing data.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.