Ecarx explores US entry, in talks with VW to develop smart cars

Volkswagen is in talks with digital cockpit system developer Ecarx to put the Chinese company's technologies in cars it sells in developed markets, such as Europe, Ecarx’s CEO said on Sunday.

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Volkswagen already has a partnership with the firm, which is backed by Geely Chairman Eric Li, to manufacture smart cars in Brazil and India with Ecarx’s digital cockpit system Antora 1000, which features its proprietary chip and software and offers services such as voice recognition and navigation maps.

The two companies are now looking to extend the partnership to include VW's Skoda-branded cars sold in Europe, Ecarx CEO Shen Ziyu told Reuters.

“The whole project is about the delivery of the hardware and software of the intelligent cockpit system, mainly in VW's Brazil factory for the Latin American market and its Indian factory for Indian market, and in the future in Europe, the Skoda market,” Shen said. “Its name is Global Entry Infotainment Platform.” Asked whether Ecarx products had been delivered to the US, Shen said there had been discussions.

“Under the current VW deal, they do not currently have this scope. But we have already discussed this and are discussing how to enter the US, this is under discussion,” Shen said, adding Ecarx products have entered the US in Volvo and Lotus cars. Both brands are owned by Geely.

Ecarx followed up on Friday to say Shen was referring to the company’s internal technical feasibility discussions of markets globally and not the Volkswagen partnership.

Skoda declined to comment.