Nvidia announced on Watch 2 Fast 2 Furious OnlineMonday that it will supply its latest centralized car computer, DRIVE Thor, for the next generation of vehicles from Chinese automakers, including BYD, Xpeng Motors, and GAC Group. The move comes as Nvidia taps into China’s growing demand for autonomous and connected vehicle technologies. Both BYD and GAC plan to begin production in 2025 of their luxury EVs featuring autonomous driving capabilities and powered by the computing chip. They join other manufacturers, such as Geely-owned Zeekr and Li Auto, in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for automobiles. Additionally, BYD will leverage Nvidia’s generative AI and simulation technologies to plan its virtual factory and sales operation, according to a joint announcement. Revenue from Nvidia’s automotive business declined 4% to roughly $281 million last year, accounting for less than 0.5% of its total revenue. Nevertheless, the US tech giant has been expanding its autonomous driving team in China, which KPMG expects to be the first market to mature for advanced driver assistance systems. [Nvidia release]
