VinFast announced its intention to integrate its future electric vehicles (EVs) with autonomous driving technology. To aid its research and development, VinFast has teamed up with an Israeli-based company, Autobrains, to explore how its EVs can be equipped with autonomous driving tech.
The Vietnamese automaker shared that it has sought Autobrains’ expertise on developing autonomous driving technology with an L2++ level. This means that VinFast intends to integrate partial automated driving capability to its future EVs.
The car brand said that it has already started undergoing pilot testing of its L2++ autonomous driving tech using VF 8 and VF 9 models. VinFast added that the partnership will allow the car brand to progressively integrate more advanced autonomous capabilities across its full product portfolio.
Of note, the L2++ level is not yet considered a self-driving tier. As per the World Economic Forum, L2++ means partially automated driving that features hands-off driving, automated lane changing, and traffic light detection. Meanwhile, VinFast shared that its current EV passenger lineup is equipped with Level 2 driving assistance features.
The partnership between VinFast and Autobrains also includes the development of the Robo-Car system. VinFast said that Autobrains’ artificial intelligence (AI) architecture can eliminate the need for LiDAR, radar arrays, or HD maps. The AI system or the Robo-Car system is powered by Autobrains’ Agentic AI architecture, which adapts to real-time driving scenarios.
It uses seven standard cameras and a compact, high-performance computing chip. The said chip has the capability to process approximately 20 trillion operations per second. This enables advanced autonomous functionality at a fraction of the cost and complexity of traditional systems, according to VinFast.
VinFast will also get to learn more about Autobrains’ Air-to-Road localization, a camera-based mapping technology that fuses real-time visual data with satellite imagery. This foundation enables a scalable and affordable Level 4 autonomous solution for both emerging and advanced markets, according to VinFast.
VinFast and Autobrains are now testing the Robo-Car in controlled zones in Hanoi, with plans to expand trials to larger cities and international markets. Autobrains is supported by strategic investors including Temasek, Knorr-Bremse AG, BMW i Ventures, Toyota Ventures, VinFast, Continental AG, and Autel.
Autocar’s Take
VinFast’s partnership with Autobrains shows that the Vietnamese car brand wants to further improve the autonomous driving capabilities of its electric vehicles. By working with Autobrains, VinFast is investing in seeing how autonomous driving tech can be integrated into its EVs in a more efficient way without compromising overall safety.
VinFast can also start working on how to integrate Level 4 autonomous driving tech into its product portfolio. From the looks of it, Autobrains is pushing for a new approach when it comes to autonomous vehicles, as it veers away from the traditional equipment or tech such as LiDAR, radars, and HD maps. If proven safe and effective, Autobrains’ tech could translate to a more affordable or attainable price point for vehicles with a Level 4 autonomous driving tech.
