Lead | Introduction

The intelligent driving landscape is evolving, with Qianli Technology and BAIC joining forces in a strategic venture to launch the 'Youxin' brand. This partnership not only aids Qianli's transition from Geely's shadow to market-driven expansion but also bolsters BAIC's intelligent driving prowess. Together, they aim to carve out a niche in the premium new energy vehicle sector.

Produced by | Heyan Yueche Studio

Written by | Zhang Dachuan

Edited by | He Zi

Full text: 2,612 characters

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Qianli Technology recently hosted its AI Strategy and New Product Launch Event, introducing the new automotive brand 'Youxin' (PALLADE). This event marked the debut of Zhao Ming, former Honor CEO, now co-chairman of Qianli Technology.

Recent revelations shed light on Youxin's strategic blueprint. Developed through a Qianli Technology-BAIC Group joint venture, Youxin targets the AI-driven intelligent vehicle market, positioning itself in the mainstream premium segment with prices ranging from RMB 200,000 to 400,000. Youxin boasts a comprehensive product lineup with three series and five new models, establishing itself as BAIC's flagship brand for high-end new energy vehicles. In this setup, Qianli Technology contributes three core technologies: L4-level advanced intelligent driving, a full-stack AI cockpit, and a super intelligent agent, while BAIC Group handles vehicle R&D, manufacturing, and supply chain integration.

△ 'Youxin' emerges as a new brand co-developed by Qianli Technology and BAIC

Qianli Technology's Complex Relationship with Geely

The Qianli Haohan Intelligent Driving Platform stems from Li Shufu's 'One Geely' vision, representing a significant integration of Geely Group's internal resources. To streamline development, Geely consolidated its brand portfolio, unifying Lynk & Co, Zeekr, Galaxy, Geometry, and Radar under one umbrella. In the intelligent driving arena, it established the Qianli Intelligent Driving Platform, merging R&D teams from Zeekr, Lotus, and the Geely Research Institute. Additionally, Geely recruited Yin Qi, founder of Megvii Technology, to spearhead the initiative and incorporated Megvii's Michi Intelligent Driving into the Qianli ecosystem, pooling technical expertise to advance intelligent driving technologies. After an initial phase of internal competition, Geely now focuses on consolidating R&D resources, avoiding redundancy in foundational technologies, and maximizing team synergy.

△ The 'Taizhou Declaration' sparked a new wave of integration within Geely

Qianli Technology aims to have its Advanced Smart Driving (ASD) system join the 'Million Club' this year, targeting 8 million installations within three years. Concurrently, Qianli Intelligent Driving is standardizing its technical architecture, using L4 technology to enhance L2 capabilities. Zhao Ming announced plans to introduce a comprehensive Robotaxi solution by 2027, with over 300,000 installations by 2030. Achieving these ambitions necessitates support beyond Geely's ecosystem.

△ Realizing these goals requires support extending beyond Geely's ecosystem

Beyond Geely, Qianli Intelligent Driving is collaborating with BAIC to form an independent joint venture. Currently, Qianli Intelligent Driving heavily relies on Geely, with 70% of installations and nearly 30% of revenue derived from Geely, raising concerns among external automakers about data security and usage. An independent joint venture structure separates corporate governance, data collection, and algorithm iteration from Geely's parent company, alleviating external clients' apprehensions. This model closely resembles Huawei's AITO strategy: Huawei established its automotive BU as an independent entity, AITO, through equity partnerships with automakers to ensure neutral technology and data operations. Qianli Intelligent Driving is likely to adopt a similar approach, forming joint ventures with more automakers to foster an open, neutral intelligent driving ecosystem through equity ties, data isolation, and independent governance.

Is Geely Revising Its Intelligent Driving Strategy?

The Qianli-BAIC joint venture does not indicate Geely's retreat from self-developed intelligent driving. Geely remains Qianli Intelligent Driving's largest shareholder, holding a 29.85% stake with strategic veto power, ensuring Geely's core control over Qianli, a crucial asset within Geely's intelligent driving ecosystem.

Why is Geely Allowing Qianli to Serve Other Automakers?

From Geely's standpoint, developing cutting-edge intelligent driving technologies entails substantial R&D costs. Pursuing L4 autonomy independently is financially and technically daunting for traditional automakers. By enabling Qianli Intelligent Driving to expand beyond Geely, the company can significantly reduce R&D costs per unit and generate sufficient cash flow for continuous platform iteration.

△ The Qianli Intelligent Driving Platform has been implemented across multiple Geely models

Intelligent driving algorithm iteration heavily relies on extensive road test data. Relying solely on Geely's vehicle installations is insufficient to compete with industry leaders. Since its strategic announcement in late 2025 through March of this year, Qianli Intelligent Driving has been deployed in 17 Geely models across Zeekr, Lynk & Co, and Galaxy brands, totaling 460,000 installations. In contrast, Huawei's ADS has partnered with over 25 brands and 50 models, exceeding 1.7 million installations, underscoring a significant data volume gap.

To diversify financing options and pursue independent market growth, Geely is advancing Qianli Intelligent Driving's IPO in Hong Kong. Reducing reliance on the parent company is vital for a successful IPO. The joint venture with BAIC marks a pivotal step towards Qianli's market independence. This operational strategy mirrors Geely's ECARX, which, after listing in the U.S., expanded orders with external automakers, establishing a mature path for independent market operations and providing a clear blueprint for Qianli Intelligent Driving's future.

△ Qianli Technology aims to follow ECARX's model, offering products and technologies to the entire industry

BAIC Leverages Qianli to Penetrate High-End Market

For BAIC, the joint venture with Qianli Intelligent Driving offers substantial advantages.

Firstly, the Qianli Haohan Intelligent Driving Platform has undergone extensive real-world testing and market validation across Geely's vehicle lineup, ensuring technical maturity and seamless integration with BAIC's new high-end brand development timeline, mitigating risks associated with delayed technology implementation. Secondly, compared to mainstream intelligent driving solutions, Qianli offers distinct benefits: Huawei's approach involves deeply integrated full-stack solutions, which are costly and limit automakers' autonomy in developing intelligent capabilities; Momenta excels in algorithms but lacks integration with cockpit and driving systems. Qianli's flexible and open technology route allows for scalable hardware configurations, meeting high-end intelligent driving needs while controlling costs for mass-market models, aligning perfectly with BAIC's diversified product strategy.

△ The mature Qianli Haohan product technology is plug-and-play for BAIC

Strategically, the independent joint venture structure enables BAIC to maintain project control. Post-collaboration, BAIC will have parallel access to Huawei's and Qianli's intelligent driving technologies, reducing dependency on a single supplier and enhancing supply chain security. Leveraging Zeekr's proven high-end new energy vehicle technologies and experience, BAIC can rapidly elevate its new high-end brand and compete effectively in the high-end new energy sector.

△ In addition to its collaboration with Huawei on Xiangjie, BAIC has partnered with Qianli Technology to reduce reliance on a single supplier

Across the automotive industry, the joint venture model between automakers and Qianli enriches intelligent transformation pathways for vehicle manufacturers, balances industry dynamics, diminishes market monopolies by leading intelligent driving enterprises, and enhances automakers' autonomy in decision-making and technology control, appealing to a broad range of automakers. Particularly for those expanding overseas, Qianli's intelligent driving solutions, backed by Geely's global footprint, offer inherent advantages in channel access and local adaptation, facilitating Chinese brands' international market entry.

Commentary

The Qianli-BAIC joint venture signifies Qianli's foray into independent growth beyond Geely's sphere. Qianli is poised to expand its automaker partnerships, focusing on overseas collaborations to broaden its market reach. The intelligent driving industry has transcended conceptual hype; real-world product performance now defines a company's strength, leaving no room for exaggeration. While Geely provides Qianli with a solid foundation, its long-term success hinges on Qianli's ability to forge its own path through genuine capabilities.

(This article is original to Heyan Yueche and cannot be reproduced without authorization.)