Volkswagen's autonomous driving joint venture in China, Carizon, is set to deepen its partnership with Horizon Robotics to jointly advance the development of autonomous driving technology.

The German automaker announced on Wednesday that this enhanced collaboration will expedite its internal research and development process for Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous driving technologies.

Level 3 autonomous driving allows the vehicle to independently handle steering, braking, and acceleration in specific scenarios. The driver is not required to keep hands on the steering wheel continuously but must be prepared to take control at any moment.

Level 4 autonomous driving is a highly automated system that can operate without driver intervention within defined areas, under specific weather conditions, and within set speed limits.

Under the upgraded cooperation agreement, Carizon will gain access to Horizon Robotics' autonomous driving foundation model. This model serves as a core platform for developing advanced autonomous driving systems, enabling Volkswagen to more rapidly create a unified, in-house AI-powered autonomous driving solution for its vehicles.

The two parties plan to achieve mass production and delivery of vehicles equipped with Level 3 autonomous driving functions no later than the second half of next year.

Volkswagen's Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Blume, stated that this cooperative agreement will strengthen the automaker's competitiveness in the Chinese market while also helping Volkswagen explore new opportunities in certain overseas markets.