The first Fang Cheng Bao model with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 3.0 is the off-road SUV Bao 8, which will be launched after the third quarter.

Fang Cheng Bao, a sub-brand of BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY), has signed a deal with technology giant Huawei to use its driver assistance system, confirming an earlier report.

Fang Cheng Bao and Huawei have signed a cooperation agreement in Shenzhen to conduct intensive research and development in the field of intelligent driving, according to a statement today.

The first Fang Cheng Bao model to be equipped with Huawei’s intelligent driving system is the upcoming Bao 8 sport utility vehicle, which will use the tech giant’s Qiankun ADS 3.0, the statement said.

Huawei released Qiankun ADS 3.0 in April, which enables advanced intelligent driving features including NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) for the city. The first model to use it is the Stelato S9 sedan, built by Huawei in collaboration with Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group).

Fang Cheng Bao and Huawei will work together to develop the world’s first intelligent driving solution exclusively for a hardcore off-road vehicle model, according to the statement from the BYD sub-brand.

Both teams have worked for a long time on development and validation, and the Bao 8 with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 3.0 will be available after the third quarter of this year, said Fang Cheng Bao.

Qiankun ADS 3.0 uses a safety-focused end-to-end network architecture to provide a more humane, safer and more efficient driving experience, said Fang Cheng Bao.

The system enables vehicles to drive autonomously from one parking space to another and can autonomously handle a variety of complex scenarios, including barriers and tight lane turning zones, the statement said.

Executives from both companies, including BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu and Huawei Rotating Chairman Eric Xu, attended the signing ceremony.

Fang Cheng Bao has modernized the brand on the one-year anniversary of its launch, expanded its future offerings and aimed to meet more consumer needs, the statement said.

BYD will officially launch the Fang Cheng Bao brand on August 16, 2023. The brand’s first model, the Bao 5 off-road SUV, was launched on November 9, 2023, with deliveries starting at the end of the same month.

So far, Fang Cheng Bao has only one model on offer, the Bao 5. The brand unveiled the Bao 8 at its spring launch event on April 16, as well as two concept cars, the Super 3 SUV and the Super 9 supercar, whose launch dates have not yet been set.

The Bao 8 is expected to be priced at around 500,000 RMB ($70,180); its main competitor is Great Wall Motor’s Tank 700 Hi-4-T.

Local media outlet LatePost first reported earlier this month that BYD Fang Cheng Bao will use Huawei’s smart driving system on the Bao 8, saying it was the first collaboration between the two companies in the field of intelligent driving.

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