The journey of the intelligent cockpit has not yet reached its destination.

The "second half" of the new energy vehicle era is witnessing an intense competition in intelligence, with high-level intelligent assisted driving and autonomous driving technologies vying for time. The pace of cockpit intelligence is also advancing simultaneously, penetrating into various models at lightning speed. Even traditional brands that once showed little interest in new energy and intelligent technologies are catching up by leveraging existing solutions, as none wishes to lag behind in this race.

Initially, the core value of a car was simply to help people improve the efficiency and convenience of point-to-point travel. However, with changes in market demand and the benefits brought by the evolution of electronic and electrical architecture technology, cars have been given meanings beyond transportation, whether as a "mobile home" or to satisfy people's entertainment needs. Car intelligence has become an irreversible industry trend.

The earliest intelligent cockpits can perhaps be traced back to the ability of projecting screens onto car infotainment systems, such as Apple's CarPlay launched in 2014. Its emergence changed the status quo of many traditional in-car information systems with limited functions and remains the primary way for traditional cars to achieve "intelligence" and "connectivity." However, in my opinion, the epitome of an intelligent cockpit with integrated intelligence and the ability to achieve OTA upgrades for the entire vehicle should be Tesla's Model S, which integrates most functions into a large screen, allowing daily operations and information presentation through touch screens.

Obviously, an intelligent car cockpit with integrated intelligence is a complex engineering system. While technologies and solutions provided by upstream suppliers influence the evolution path of intelligent cockpits to a certain extent, both powerful computing platforms and cutting-edge intelligent large models require a combination of hardware and software to bring the entire cockpit solution to fruition.

In addition to Tesla, the rise of domestic new energy vehicles in recent years has also driven the development of the intelligent cockpit supply chain, connecting upstream and downstream industries, giving birth to a series of intelligent cockpit solutions. Open platform solutions represented by Huawei's HarmonyOS cockpit, ECarX's Flyme Auto intelligent cockpit, and Qualcomm's cockpit intelligence, as well as in-house cockpit solutions represented by Geely, NIO, LIXIANG, and Changan, are now ushering in an era of prosperity for intelligent cockpits.

So, what efforts have suppliers and automakers made in the field of intelligent cockpits?

Cockpit Solution Suppliers: Comprehensive Development in Human-Computer Interaction, Digitization, and Connectivity

HarmonyOS Cockpit: A Benchmark in the Era of Smart Cars

For many people, Huawei's assisted driving/autonomous driving technology is more influential, but in fact, it is also quite representative in the field of intelligent cockpits.

Huawei's entry into the automotive industry dates back to 2019, but unlike Xiaomi and other OEM models. Huawei aims to play the role of a supplier, releasing multiple core products such as HarmonyOS Smart Connected Cockpit in April 2021 to empower automakers. The HarmonyOS cockpit is now in its fourth generation.

The HarmonyOS cockpit is a representative of industry open platform solutions. Not only does it have HarmonyOS Intelligent Driving and HI model vehicles as examples of software and hardware solution integration, but some automakers have also empowered their new car cockpits based on HarmonyOS cockpit capabilities. In addition to well-known models such as WENJIE, ZHIJIE, AVATR, etc., Geometry G6/M6, JAC Refine RF8, and fuel-powered Beijing Magic Cube have all equipped with the HarmonyOS cockpit or solutions based on it.

Some automakers have also recognized Huawei's software advantages and collaborated to create intelligent cockpit solutions. For example, the cockpit of the 9th generation Camry, and traditional brands such as GAC and Dongfeng are also stepping up their cooperation with Huawei, indicating a significant industry influence.

Unlike Huawei HiCar, the HarmonyOS cockpit is an integrated intelligent cockpit solution with highly integrated functions on the vehicle. Like a smartphone, it can undergo OTA upgrades throughout the vehicle's lifecycle, with software optimization and maintenance.

Huawei has brought the desktop interaction of smartphones and tablets into car cockpits, introducing customizable card-style quick bars and scientifically zoning the driver's field of vision. Behind the new desktop interaction, the system also supports full-screen, split-screen, and floating window displays, effectively turning a tablet into a car.

The efficient and beautiful UI design and interaction have also attracted industry attention. We can see similar car infotainment system layouts on many intelligent cockpit screens today, such as BYD's DiLink 5.0 system and Great Wall's Coffee OS 3. In my opinion, good design indeed requires "mutual understanding" as a good experience should converge.

Unlike mainstream Qualcomm cockpit chip solutions, the HarmonyOS cockpit uses Huawei's own automotive-grade cockpit chip, the Kirin 990A, which boasts 4 Taishan V120 + 4 ARM V7A A55 CPU core scales, a Mali-G76 GPU, and enhanced Da Vinci architecture computing power chips, including 2 D110 big cores and 1 D100 small core, with a computing power of up to 3.5 TOPS. Frankly speaking, it is not the most cutting-edge cockpit chip in terms of performance, but its high compatibility with the HarmonyOS cockpit system ensures smooth operation even today.

Yu Chengdong once said that in the era of the Internet of Everything, no person or device will be an island. The strength of the HarmonyOS cockpit lies not only in the cockpit itself, but also in its synergy with Huawei's device ecosystem. Based on Huawei's multi-device ecosystem, watches can serve as car keys, and the combination of the infotainment system and smartphones/tablets can create more possibilities.

In 2023, the third-generation HarmonyOS Smart Connected Cockpit system was released, bringing two interconnectivity capabilities based on distributed soft bus technology—MagLink and Super Desktop. MagLink is an attempt by the HarmonyOS cockpit in multi-device collaboration and function expansion, allowing users to connect their Huawei tablets to the cockpit system as rear entertainment screens and cockpit control screens through standard interfaces and extended accessories.

Super Desktop is similar to a more open screen projection capability, allowing the phone's desktop and apps to be directly streamed to the infotainment system's large screen. The infotainment system and phone share the same software ecosystem, and Huawei's parallel vision and other large-screen adaptations are mature enough to avoid the costs of repeatedly adapting the infotainment system's software ecosystem, deepening the connection between Huawei devices and cars.

Of course, the intelligent cockpit still revolves around "intelligence." Along with the iteration of the HarmonyOS cockpit, there is also intelligence, with the cloud-end collaborative AI architecture voice assistant implemented in the first-generation cockpit. The system can also proactively provide users with suitable recommendations and services based on vehicle environmental perception. The third-generation cockpit incorporates the Qianwu large model and Qianwu visual capabilities, supporting multiple intelligent interaction methods such as wave control, further upgrading the in-cabin perception accuracy.

In the latest HarmonyOS 4.0 cockpit, the Xiao Yi voice assistant is integrated with AI large models, giving it more natural conversational interaction capabilities, as well as information retrieval, summary generation, and multi-language translation. New features such as six-sound-zone sound source positioning, concurrent control of multiple people on multiple screens and sound zones, and in-cabin eye tracking recognition bring more substantial benefits to the HarmonyOS cockpit in my opinion.

Without exaggeration, the HarmonyOS cockpit is indeed representative in the field of smart cars. With Huawei's device ecosystem as a moat, it fully leverages its accumulation and advantages in the field of software interaction, exerting considerable influence in the industry. Many automakers are "lining up" for cooperation, seemingly indicating the value of the HarmonyOS cockpit.

Flyme Auto: Taking "Man and Nature" as the Center of Interaction

In July 2022, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group's Hubei Xingji Times Technology Co., Ltd. and Zhuhai Meizu Technology Co., Ltd. held a strategic investment signing ceremony in Hangzhou, announcing that Xingji Times holds a 79.09% controlling stake in Meizu Technology and gains sole control over it.

Geely's acquisition of Meizu is not just about smartphones. It is undoubtedly for Meizu's software development capabilities. On March 30, 2023, Flyme Auto was officially released and first equipped on the LYNK & CO 08 EM-P. As a continuation of Meizu Flyme in the field of intelligent cockpits, Flyme Auto is also highly anticipated by the market.

The commonality between Flyme Auto intelligent cockpit and HarmonyOS intelligent cockpit lies in multi-device collaboration. The former also has its own car-phone interconnectivity. Paired with Meizu phones running Flyme OS, Flyme Auto intelligent cockpit can achieve seamless multi-device interconnectivity, bridging the gap between phones and cars, enabling capabilities such as app streaming, hardware and computing power sharing similar to "Super Desktop".

LYNK & CO 07 EM-P now also supports the expansion of rear tablets, connecting with the LYNK & CO Co Pad to satisfy the automotive ecological scenario of large-screen entertainment and vehicle control. The 92-inch AR-HUD located in the driver's seat is responsible for displaying driving information and can also serve as an entertainment screen when the user is resting. However, Flyme Auto's current exploration of this AR-HUD scenario is not deep enough, and there is still considerable potential.

Compared to the strong intelligence embodiment of the HarmonyOS intelligent cockpit, Flyme Auto focuses more on sensory design. Its built-in "Ruran Engine" is an animation system that simulates a 24-hour weather environment, synchronizing weather with the infotainment system desktop scene. "Ruran Air Conditioning" can simulate natural sensations such as warm sunlight, fireplaces, and gentle breezes, while the rest space mobilizes the car's hardware to create a multi-sensory atmosphere, simulating natural environments to create a more intimate resting environment.

In terms of computing, Flyme Auto has also taken a different approach. Taking the LYNK & CO 08 EM-P as an example, it is equipped with the Antora 1000Pro computing platform, powered by two "Longying No. 1" chips providing computing power support. The NPU computing power reaches up to 16 TOPS, and the GPU computing power reaches up to 1800G FLOPS. Such powerful performance is necessary to drive Flyme Auto's complex animation system.

A new solution has also emerged on the ZEEKR Z10, equipped with an AMD S2000 chip. The official claims that this chip's computing power is 1.8 times that of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8295.

The car infotainment system interface interaction maintains Meizu's consistent清爽 and fluidity, coupled with Meizu's exclusive SmartBar and small window display. Combined with Meizu Flyme phones, the playability of the intelligent cockpit is maximized. Overall, this cockpit solution has considerable competitiveness in the market, validating the saying that "smartphone manufacturers are better at making car infotainment systems".

It can be said that Flyme Auto's characteristics lie in its "breathing sense" and "natural sense," focusing on human-computer interaction. This is a good direction considering that physical buttons in smart cars are becoming fewer and screens are becoming more numerous. Automakers must explore a more comfortable and communicative interaction solution, and Flyme Auto's exploration is valuable.

However, the current status of Flyme Auto is diametrically opposed to that of the HarmonyOS cockpit. While the latter has a long queue of automakers seeking cooperation, the former, apart from Geely models implementing the solution, has yet to emerge with other collaboration partners. Profitability is crucial for intelligent cockpit solutions, and it remains to be seen whether subsequent automakers will discover the bright spots of Flyme Auto.

Snapdragon Digital Chassis: Embracing AI as a Vanguard

At the 2024 International Consumer Electronics Show, Qualcomm showcased its latest Snapdragon Digital Chassis, new features, and some collaboration dynamics, including new cockpit development tools and an integrated generative AI empowerment framework, shortening product development cycles and pushing automotive cockpits onto the AI track.

Strictly speaking, the Qualcomm Snapdragon Digital Chassis is not an intelligent cockpit solution sold as a whole but rather an open platform that combines Qualcomm's cutting-edge technologies as a demonstration for customers. After all, Qualcomm's business coverage is extensive, and the Snapdragon Digital Chassis encompasses multiple products, platforms, and software components, including its renowned automotive-grade cockpit chips.

Qualcomm takes digitization and AI as the driving forces of intelligent cockpits, implementing edge-side generative AI, playing a crucial role in automotive cockpits. It focuses on efficient, private, personalized, and secure edge-side experiences. Nakul Duggal, Senior Vice President of Qualcomm Technologies and General Manager of the Automotive and Cloud Computing Business, believes that cars will be the best carriers for generative AI.

The uniqueness of generative AI lies in its ability to provide users with a wealth of contextual information. Qualcomm's Snapdragon Digital Chassis demonstration scheme has shown multiple scenarios, such as generative AI generating vehicle user guides, eliminating the need for users to open paper vehicle manuals, or automatically preparing a recipe and adding ingredients to a shopping list, all without relying on smartphones. The car itself can serve as a computing unit to accomplish these tasks.

However, Qualcomm's layout is more advanced. As the industry's demand for higher integration, performance, and lower functionality chips increases, supply chain giants have taken an early step towards the path of integrated cockpit and driving chips.

To this end, Qualcomm introduced the industry's first scalable SoC, Snapdragon Ride Flex, supporting digital cockpits and advanced assisted driving in 2023. At CES 2024, it showcased domain controller solutions built