Intel, Geely partner Mobileye to launch China self-driving car

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Intel, Geely partner Mobileye to launch China self-driving car

Jan 4 Reuters -- Intel Corp's autonomous driving unit, Mobileye, said on Tuesday it plans to work with Geely Holding-backed Zeekr to launch in China, which the companies claim will be the world's first mostly self-driving car in 2024.

The two companies said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that the car will have Level 4 autonomy, meaning that it will still have a steering wheel and require a licensed driver, but will be able to drive itself in many situations. It will use six of Mobileye's EyeQ 5 chips and use Mobileye's road-mapping data.

Intel, which is hungry for cash to build chip factories and compete with rivals like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, said last month it plans to spin out a portion of Mobileye in an initial public offering https: www.reuters. Geely, a fast-growing Chinese automaker, has recently explored manufacturing cars in Korea that could be duty-free exported to the United States, according to a report last month from the company's website, https://www.reuters.com. Mobileye said it is deepening its relationship with Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday. The two firms said that Ford will use Mobileye's road-mapping data system, which is drawn from all vehicles on the road with Mobileye hardware, in future versions of Ford's BlueCruise that allows hands-free driving in some situations.

Mobileye said Volkswagen AG will start using some of its mapping data products for Volkswagen's driver-assistance features, such as automated lane keeping.

The next generation of its flagship computer chip, called the EyeQ Ultra, is designed to use minimal electricity, which is becoming more important as self-driving systems compete with drive trains for limited battery capacity in electric vehicles. The chip is expected to be ready next year with production of the chips expected to be done in 2025, according to the company.