At the 2026 China Auto Forum Technology Leaders Summit, two-year-old JV neueHCT unveiled its tiered intelligent driving solution. Using Horizon Robotics J6M chips paired with physical AI end-to-end algorithms, the approach balances functional needs with manufacturing costs while delivering safety and smoothness comparable to 200-300 TOPS systems.
The Industry Dilemma Under the Computing Arms Race
The intelligent driving sector is currently caught in a blind race for computing power. Premium models pack chips ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 TOPS, yet vehicle costs keep climbing. Meanwhile, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles struggle to adopt affordable city-driving assist systems due to thermal and hardware architecture limitations. Domestic autonomous driving tech often stumbles abroad because of unfamiliar road conditions and driving habits.
Lu You, general manager of products and markets at neueHCT, addressed these persistent headaches at the 2026 China Auto Forum Technology Leaders Summit. As a joint venture founded just two years ago, neueHCT has chosen a fundamentally different path — rejecting unchecked hardware stacking in favor of tiered hardware planning paired with physical AI end-to-end algorithms, balancing cost, compatibility, and global adaptability.
Tiered Hardware Strategy: Right-Sizing Instead of Chasing Peaks
neueHCT's hardware tiering covers three levels:
- Entry-level: Approximately 10 TOPS, targeting basic assisted driving needs
- Mid-to-high-tier: Horizon Robotics J6M chip delivering 100+ TOPS
- Next-generation: Cockpit-driving integrated chip, rolling out in stages
The core advantage of this strategy lies in compensating for hardware gaps through software optimization. Taking the J6M platform as an example, its one-stage end-to-end physical AI algorithm achieves safety and smoothness comparable to 200-300 TOPS systems.
| Tier | Computing Power | Target Scenario | Core Chip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | ~10 TOPS | Basic assisted driving | Horizon entry chip |
| Mid-to-high | 100+ TOPS | Urban NOA, Highway NOA | Horizon J6M |
| Next-gen | TBD | Cockpit-driving integration | Next-gen integrated chip |
Dual Breakthrough: ICE Compatibility and Global Adaptation
Another major highlight of the neueHCT solution is its friendly support for ICE vehicles. Traditional ICE vehicles often require expensive retrofits to support advanced city-driving features due to thermal and hardware constraints. The neueHCT solution adopts a single-fan hardware structure that fits ICE vehicles without extra cost, delivering consistent performance across both gasoline and electric models.
At the algorithm level, the system moves beyond rigid rule-based approaches to understand road logic, demonstrating strong adaptability in the following scenarios:
- Flexible judgment at obscured crosswalks
- Autonomous decision-making at irregular intersections
- Stable performance on Chongqing's complex mountain roads without specialized training
- Natural adaptation to niche overseas conditions such as narrow European streets and cobblestone surfaces
Lu You emphasized that most overseas deployment issues are not hard algorithm failures but stem from a lack of local data on driving habits and regulations — problems that can be solved by filling those data gaps.
Commercial Progress and Future Outlook
In just two years since its founding, neueHCT has achieved remarkable commercial milestones:
- Secured design wins for over 50 models
- More than 20 models reaching mass production this year
- Backed by Omov Group's overseas engineering team, launching in Europe, South America, and Australia-New Zealand this year
- Mature passenger vehicle technology being repurposed for electric two-wheelers and autonomous logistics vehicles to open new markets
Lu You concluded that Chinese autonomous driving firms should not fixate on high computing power when expanding globally. Steady internationalization relies on tiered cost control, ICE-EV compatibility, algorithm generalization, and adaptation by local teams. For buyers and dealers following the global intelligent driving supply chain, neueHCT's tiered approach offers a compelling cost-efficiency reference model. Stay updated on intelligent driving technology trends at EX1000.COM.
