Former Chief of Smart Driving R&D at Horizon Robotics Allegedly Joins BYD

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BYD (OTCMKTS: BYDDY) is making significant strides in the field of smart driving, as evidenced by the recent addition of Liao Jie, the former Director of Smart Driving Research and Development at Horizon Robotics, to BYD’s smart driving team in Shanghai. Local reports suggest that BYD is intensifying its focus on smart driving technologies.

Former Chief of Smart Driving R&D at Horizon Robotics Allegedly Joins BYD - Car News - 1

(Image: BYD)

Liao Jie, who initially joined Horizon Robotics in 2016 as a Senior R&D Engineer, was later promoted to lead the Smart Driving R&D division in December 2017. His expertise centered on developing autonomous driving algorithms, particularly for the Journey series of chips, and collaborating with partners to fine-tune these algorithms.

The expansion of BYD’s smart driving sector is under the purview of its Institute of Product Planning and New Automotive Technologies. The institute, under the leadership of Han Bing, has embarked on an aggressive recruitment drive. The team has grown to encompass 2,000 professionals, primarily stationed at BYD’s Shenzhen headquarters, with additional members located at research centers in Shanghai and Xi’an.

A noteworthy detail is the connection between BYD and Horizon Robotics. In April 2022, the two entities forged a partnership to incorporate Horizon Robotics’ self-driving chip, Journey 5, into select 2023 BYD vehicle models. This collaboration reflects BYD’s commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology to enhance its offerings.

BYD’s strategic moves in the smart driving sector have seen recent leadership shifts, including the departure of Wang Huan, the former Head of Smart Driving R&D at BYD’s Planning Institute. Han Bing, formerly overseeing the Electronics Integration Department, has stepped into this role, signaling a proactive approach to accelerating BYD’s self-driven research initiatives.

In terms of sales, BYD’s electric vehicle (EV) success is evident, having achieved a record-breaking sale of 262,161 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in July. This achievement contributes to BYD’s impressive cumulative total of over 1.5 million NEV units sold from January to July. These sales figures underline BYD’s formidable position in the electric vehicle market.

As the landscape of smart driving and electric vehicles continues to evolve, BYD’s strategic hires and collaborations position the company for further innovation and growth.