Huawei's smart car tech offers automakers route to China sales

It's taken Huawei just four years to become a force in smart car technology, navigating the devastation of trade sanctions on its smartphones business while simultaneously developing a driver assistance system that is the darling of the Beijing auto show.

Huawei Technologies has two huge booths at this week's event, and there are at least seven Chinese automakers touting its Qiankun installed in their cars as the most sophisticated advanced driving assistance system (ADAS) to date.

Even Germany's Volkswagen will equip its China-made, Chinabound Audi Q6L e-tron with Qiankun upon the car's 2025 launch, in Huawei's first deal with a foreign automaker, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida's interest was piqued too as he visited a Huawei booth and listened to representatives explain the systems developed for the Seres car on display. A Nissan spokesperson said Uchida was touring booths and had no comment on any considerations of a Huawei tie-up.

Audi said it does not comment on suppliers. Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Huawei's rapid emergence as parts supplier highlights the telecommunications equipment maker's drive for sources of growth after US export controls pursued on national security grounds since 2019 hammered its businesses, especially smartphones.