GAC will create a new premium smart NEV brand in addition to Trumpchi, Aion and Hyptec.
GAC Group has entered into a partnership with Huawei in order to co-create a new premium brand, the latest local automaker to deepen its collaboration with the tech giant.
GAC and Huawei signed a partnership agreement to deepen cooperation in Guangzhou on November 30, 2024, the Guangzhou-based carmaker announced today.
GAC will create a new premium smart new energy vehicle (NEV) brand in addition to Trumpchi, Aion and Hyptec, according to a statement.
GAC has 27 years of experience in building vehicles, while Huawei focuses on information and communication technology and has a leading edge in intelligence, the statement said.
Based on this NEV brand, GAC and Huawei will leverage their respective strengths to bring leading-edge intelligent experiences to users through cooperation in areas such as product development, marketing and ecological services, GAC said.
The signing was witnessed by GAC chairman Zeng Qinghong and general manager Feng Xingya, Huawei's rotating chairman Eric Xu, and its intelligent vehicle solutions business unit CEO Jin Yuzhi.
There are three types of cooperation between Huawei and car companies, of which the model of launching a new brand with a car company to build car sis the one in which it is most deeply involved. Originally known as Zhixuan, the model was upgraded in November 2023 to HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance).
In the approach where Huawei is least involved, the tech giant only provides components and the HarmonyOS system.
In the middle of the spectrum is the “Huawei Inside” model, where Huawei provides full-stack smart car solutions, including smart cockpits and smart driving, to automakers.
Under the HIMA business, Huawei's current partners include Seres, Chery, Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC).
For GAC, back in May 2021, the company announced that it would partner with Huawei to co-develop L4 self-driving cars, with mass production planned for 2024.
In May 2021, Aion announced that it would partner with Huawei to create a luxury premium brand, with the first model of the partnership -- an SUV (sport utility vehicle) codenamed AH8 -- to be launched in 2023.
This made GAC the third adopter of the Huawei Inside model after BAIC and Changan.
However, on March 27, 2023, GAC said in an announcement that the AH8 was changed to be developed by Aion itself instead of jointly with Huawei.
After this change, Huawei would continue to participate as a key supplier in the development and collaboration of GAC's own-branded models, according to the announcement at the time.
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