Toyota and Huawei have announced a collaboration to develop their first smart car, the bZ7, featuring Huawei’s HarmonyOS cockpit solution. After a year of planning, both companies are set to manufacture advanced electric vehicles for Chinese consumers.
Huawei, known for its partnerships with global automakers like Dongfeng Honda, Nissan, BMW, and now Toyota, is expanding its smart automotive solutions in China. These collaborations allow the Chinese tech giant to strengthen its presence in the automotive sector.
Toyota, a leading Japanese multinational and the largest car manufacturer worldwide, has traditionally produced nearly 10 million vehicles annually. Li Hui, General Manager of Toyota China, shared his vision for the partnership, stating that including Chinese expertise was crucial to developing cars that meet the needs of local customers. He emphasized, “To deliver cars that people want in China, we need Chinese brains and hands involved in development.”
The HarmonyOS cockpit, according to Toyota, will enhance the bZ7 electric sedan’s capabilities by more effectively powering the car’s smart systems. These cockpit systems control features like windows, air conditioning, and seat positions through a touch screen interface.
In addition to this partnership, Toyota has also collaborated with the Chinese startup Momenta to create an L2 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). Although this system is level 2, it still requires human supervision for driving tasks.
Meanwhile, Huawei is working with Honga to integrate its DeepSeek AI services, enabling voice command responses in vehicles. This partnership signals a growing trend of Huawei-powered smart vehicles in the Chinese market.
