Li Auto selects NVIDIA tech for next-generation EV fleets

The accelerated computing company NVIDIA has announced that Li Auto, an extended-range electric vehicle (EV) pioneer, has chosen NVIDIA DRIVE Thor, a next-generation centralised car computer, for its forthcoming fleets. EV makers, including GWM (Great Wall Motor), ZEEKR and Xiaomi, have opted for the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin platform to energise their intelligent automated driving systems.

According to Xinzhou Wu, vice president of automotive at NVIDIA, the transportation industry shows a growing acceptance of centralised compute for achieving higher automation and autonomy in driving. The NVIDIA DRIVE Orin has become the preferred AI car computer for the intelligent fleets of today. Due to its advanced capabilities and AI performance, the EV makers are inclining towards its successor, NVIDIA DRIVE Thor, for their future vehicle rollouts.

The NVIDIA DRIVE Thor is a ground-breaking centralised car computer that amalgamates diverse, intelligent functions into a single AI computing platform. This setup can deliver autonomous driving and parking features, driver and passenger monitoring, and AI cockpit functionality. Li Auto already leverages two DRIVE Orin processors in its L-series models' assisted-driving system, AD Max. These processors enable real-time fusing and processing of sensor information, facilitating full-scenario autonomous driving suitable for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), full-scenario assisted driving for lane change control (LCC), automated parking and automatic emergency braking (AEB) active safety features.

GWM, one of the forefront new energy vehicle producers in China, has announced its plan to develop its self-driving system, the Coffee Pilot, based on the DRIVE Orin centralised computing platform. This sophisticated tool can assist with parking, high-speed and urban scenes to achieve full-scenario smart navigation and assisted-driving features minus high-precision maps. Described by a GWM spokesperson as a future enhancer of mobility and the overall automotive industry, the high-end intelligent-driving system is set to debut its first model in the first half of the year.

ZEEKR, Geely's premium EV subsidiary, has launched the ZEEKR Luxury Sedan, its fourth model powered by NVIDIA DRIVE Orin. The new vehicle boasts a full-stack smart driving system, energised by two DRIVE Orin systems-on-a-chip, delivering intelligent parking and automated operation on high-speed and urban roads. Chen Qi, vice president of ZEEKR, praised the collaboration with NVIDIA for creating innovative, safe, autonomous driving capabilities through the energy-efficient, high-performance NVIDIA DRIVE car computing platform.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi EV, the automotive arm of the tech giant, has announced the SU7 sedan, its first EV model. This vehicle operates on a dual DRIVE Orin configuration for highway driving functions. The sedan, built using Xiaomi's leading large language model for perception and decision-making, will navigate flawlessly through Chinese cities, irrespective of the type of road or city it is driving in. Two versions will be released, one boasting a driving range of up to 415 miles on a single charge and the other offering a range of up to 497 miles. The official launch of the SU7 will be in the first half of 2024.