Audi has signed a memorandum of understanding for a strategic cooperation with the Chinese information and telecommunications corporation Huawei.

The agreement forms part of a broad-based partnership between companies in the two countries initiated by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“We are intensifying our joint research with Huawei in the area of Intelligent Connected Vehicles,” explained Saad Metz, Executive Vice President of Audi China, adding: “Our aim is to improve safety and optimize traffic flows in order to create intelligent cities. The concepts will initially be concentrated on the Chinese market.”

Intelligent Connected Vehicles allow relevant information to be exchanged with the surrounding environment. To achieve this, cars need a high-quality, stable data connection. The expansion of this communication requires intensive research and development. The cooperation between Audi and Huawei is also intended to facilitate the ongoing advancement of automated driving and the digitalization of services in the vehicle environment. To this end, the parties have additionally agreed to jointly develop training programs in order to strengthen the skills of technology experts in both of these areas.

“We are entering a new era of Intelligent Connected Vehicles that will see the emergence of new technological synergies between information and communications technology and the automotive industries,” commented Veni Shone, President of LTE Solution, Huawei, adding: “With increased innovation in mobile connectivity, Huawei is committed to transforming the driving experience.”

Working in cooperation with Huawei and the Chinese authorities, Audi became the first foreign automobile manufacturer to participate in the first-time deployment of “LTE-V” on public roads in the megacity of Wuxi in eastern China in 2017. “LTE-V” is a mobile communication standard, which is specially tailored for connected cars. Drivers were provided with real-time traffic information via connections to traffic light systems and video monitoring at intersections.

In September 2018, the project will enter its next phase at the “World Internet of Things Exposition” in Wuxi with an even broader range of applications.