Integrated Cockpit and Driving Systems Accelerate Implementation; High-Performance Single-Chip Solutions Emerge as the New Battleground

[Technical Breakthrough] In 2026, multiple integrated cockpit-and-driving solutions will be intensively launched, marking the technology’s entry into the deep phase of mass production.

Key Developments: Three "Firsts" Launched in Parallel, Revealing Capability Stratification

The Arcfox Alpha T5 from BAIC became the first vehicle to achieve mass production of an integrated cockpit-and-driving system powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8775 in October 2025. In April 2026, Black Sesame Intelligence unveiled China’s first locally developed mass-production platform for integrated cockpit-and-driving systems. In the same month, Horizon Robotics launched China’s first vehicle-intelligence chip series for cockpit-driving integration, named Stellar.

Strategic Foundation: Integration and Cost Reduction Drive Technological Leap

Horizon Robotics stated that its Stellar chip can reduce costs per vehicle by RMB 4,000, backed by R&D investments totaling tens of billions of RMB over three years. Emphasizing that “the essence of computer engineering is integration,” Horizon aims to capture influence in the next-generation automotive ecosystem through tightly integrated hardware-software solutions.

Industry Impact: From Patchwork to Deep Integration—The Race Reaches a Decisive Stage

Integrated cockpit-and-driving systems are evolving from functional patchwork toward deep fusion. High-performance single-chip solutions have become the core enabler for advanced architectures, and the demonstration effect of mass-production “showcases” may accelerate industry consolidation.