Huawei Technologies is aiming to have its Qiankun ADS advanced driver assistance system fitted into over 80 different vehicle models this year and hitting 3 million units on the road.
Currently, Qiankun ADS is used in around 30 models as of November 2025, but the technology is being quickly adopted by Chinese carmakers.
Huawei installs the technology in vehicles that it develops with other carmakers but also supplies it to other brands.
Qiankun ADS comprises a suite of smart car software and hardware that delivers features such as autonomous driving assistance (ADAS), smart cockpits and navigation. Unlike other systems, Qiankun is a full stack package with all the necessary bits.
It has evolved through versions like ADS 3.0, 4.0, and Ultra for various levels of automation that are almost in the L3 bracket of autonomous driving. Many in the industry consider it on par if not better than Tesla’s FSD.
Huawei’s collaboration with other Chinese carmakers is expected to result in at least 12 new models in 2026, and combined with existing models already being sold, should account for a total of 20 models with Qiankun ADS.
The group will provide the technology to more carmakers that are not brand partners, beginning with SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, a joint venture involving state-owned SAIC Motor and General Motors, that will fit it into an upcoming SUV.
Additionally, the FAW Group will also fit the tech into its luxury Hongqi brand. Other brands such as state-owned automakers Guangzhou Automobile Group and Dongfeng Motor Group will also be adopting Qiankun ADS. Even Honda has agreed to use the system in its cars for the Chinese market.
Back in August 2025, SAIC Audi’s launched the A5L Sportback, making it the world’s first internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle integrated with Huawei’s tech.
Integrating autopilot or semi-autonomous driving systems into cars is a costly feature but economies of scale and trickle-down tech has seen it becoming more common lower down the price scale.
This yea, Huawei is planning to introduce a more cost-effective system that includes the necessary cameras and sensors for mass-market cars priced around 150,000 yuan (~RM 90,000), labelled the Qiankun ADS SE.
Last year, Huawei ranked second in the Chinese market share as an external supplier of driver assistance technology with a 20% slice of the pie. That figure still sees it in the dust of Momenta, a specialist in this tech, that commanded 60% of the segment.
We could very well be seeing more cars with Qiankun ADS rolling on Malaysian roads this year.
