City driving rarely follows a script. Driver assistance in this environment needs more than fast perception. It must understand the situation, decide and act smoothly, all while keeping the driver in control.
HS8, or Hyper Sense 8, is the Volkswagen Group’s first in-house full-scenario Level 2++ advanced driver assistance system for the Chinese market. Developed by Carizon, a joint venture between Cariad and Horizon Robotics, the technology is being introduced in vehicles this year.
AI that turns complex traffic into clear decisions
At the core of HS8 is Carizon’s Hyper Sense AI model. It combines perception and decision-making in one end-to-end system. The model learns how traffic scenes develop and how the vehicle should respond. In real-world driving conditions, it can make decisions in under 0.16 seconds.
The model is trained and tested with GAIA 2.0, Carizon’s data and simulation platform. It creates a wide range of virtual traffic situations, including rare scenarios that are difficult or unsafe to reproduce on public roads. This allows engineers to train the system across up to 30 million simulated driving scenarios and refine its responses before it reaches customers.
HS8 is designed to assist with driving in urban and highway environments, including turns, merges, intersections and lane changes. As a Level 2++ system, it remains driver-supervised, with the driver responsible for monitoring the system and intervening when required.
Developed in China, built for Chinese roads
HS8 follows an “In China, for China” development approach, with its software developed and validated for local road conditions, traffic patterns and customer requirements. Local development also enables closer integration with vehicle programs and series-production requirements.
“Intelligent driving is becoming one of the key differentiators in China’s automotive market. That’s why we founded Carizon, our joint venture with Horizon Robotics, to develop advanced driver assistance systems specifically for Chinese customers. At the core of Hyper Sense 8 is Carizon’s Hyper Sense AI model, which combines perception and decision-making in a single end-to-end system,” said Peter Bosch, CEO of Cariad.
Carizon combines its software and system integration with Horizon Robotics’ AI models and Journey 6-series computing hardware. The platform is available in camera-only and lidar-equipped configurations, allowing it to be adapted to different vehicle requirements.
Seven models, one scalable technology base
The rollout begins with the SAIC Volkswagen ID. ERA 5S, which uses the camera-based version of HS8. The Jetta M6 will follow, while the FAW-Volkswagen ID. Aura T6 will be the first lidar-equipped model, with the technology also planned for lidar versions of the ID. UNYX 06 and ID. UNYX 07.
In total, Level 2++ technology is planned for seven new-energy vehicle models across Volkswagen Group China’s joint ventures this year. From 2027, the lidar-based solution is set to expand to further vehicles using the China Electronic Architecture, or CEA. This scalable rollout connects locally developed assistance technology with a common electronics foundation across multiple models.
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