Source: BMW

On July 15, BMW Group (FWB: BMW) announced a partnership with Momenta, a Chinese autonomous driving startup, to jointly develop a new generation of intelligent driving assistance systems for the Chinese market.

This system will first be integrated into locally produced "New Generation" BMW models, supporting assisted driving functions in both highway and urban scenarios, and enabling full-process navigation capabilities from parking spot departure to destination parking.

This system, co-developed by BMW and Momenta, is based on the electronic and electrical architecture of BMW's new localized models.

It will be driven by an AI large model at its core, integrating perception, decision-making, and control functions. According to BMW, the system will feature end-to-end self-learning capabilities and can be continuously optimized through over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Source: BMW

BMW's collaboration with Chinese technology companies in intelligent mobility spans several years. This deeper joint research and development with Momenta is seen as another step in accelerating its "in-situ innovation" for driving assistance technology.

Xiang Gao, President and CEO of BMW Group Region China, stated that this partnership reflects BMW's "In China, For China" strategic intent and is part of "advancing innovation at China speed."

Intelligent driving is a core technological direction in the current automotive industry competition. Traditional automakers are facing pressure from emerging EV manufacturers in areas such as urban navigation assisted driving and automatic parking.

In this context, BMW's decision to partner with Momenta, which possesses local data, algorithms, and development capabilities, is expected to enhance the system's adaptability to complex local traffic scenarios and facilitate quicker mass production.

Momenta, established in 2016, is a prominent Chinese autonomous driving company that has received investments from various automakers, including General Motors (NYSE: GM), Volkswagen Group (FWB: VOW3), and Toyota (NYSE: TM).

Its technology emphasizes data-driven, self-learning autonomous driving algorithms, aiming to continuously optimize system performance across different cities and road conditions.

The intelligent driving assistance system resulting from this collaboration is slated for deployment across multiple market segments and various BMW models.

BMW emphasizes that the system will not replace driver control but will provide higher-level driving support functions, particularly in high-frequency scenarios like highway cruising, urban congestion, and complex intersections, thereby enhancing safety and operational convenience.

Safety remains BMW's technical baseline for intelligent driving systems. Michael Ayyoubi, Senior Vice President of Driving Experience at BMW Group, stated that the system's development incorporates over 20 years of BMW's driving assistance system development experience, including redundant design, emergency mechanisms, and driving behavior modeling.

Data processing by the system will also adhere to relevant Chinese regulations regarding data localization and user privacy.

This is not BMW's first joint effort with Chinese technology companies to advance intelligent driving features. Previously, BMW collaborated with companies like Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) and Huawei in areas such as voice interaction and in-car connectivity.

This partnership with Momenta indicates that BMW's intelligent collaboration is extending from the user interface level to the core driving control layer.

In the Chinese market, intelligent driving assistance features are increasingly becoming standard in mid-to-high-end vehicles. Emerging EV companies, including NIO (NYSE: NIO), XPeng (NYSE: XPEV), and Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI), have positioned urban NOA (Navigation On Autopilot) as a key technological selling point.

The pace of traditional automakers' deployment in this area and their ability to adapt to local conditions are becoming significant variables influencing their market performance.

BMW stated that it will continue to explore joint ventures with local technology firms in the future to address the rapid evolution of intelligent driving technology and to more precisely serve the diverse mobility needs of Chinese users.