Core Viewpoint - NIO is beginning to generate revenue from its high-cost project by licensing its self-developed advanced intelligent driving chip, "Shenji NX9031," to an automotive chip company [3][4]. Group 1: Chip Development and Commercialization - The Shenji NX9031 chip, developed using 5nm automotive-grade technology, has a computing power approximately four times that of NVIDIA's Orin-X [6]. - The project team for NX9031 consists of over 600 people and has a development cost comparable to building 1,000 battery swap stations, estimated at tens of billions of yuan [7]. - NIO's CEO, Li Bin, has indicated that the chip and operating system will be open to the industry, suggesting that NIO aims to position itself as a leading supplier of high-quality chips [7][8]. Group 2: Strategic Partnerships and Investments - NIO has established a joint venture, Chongqing Chuangyuan Zhihang Technology Co., Ltd., with Aixin Yuanzhi Semiconductor and Haowei Integrated Circuit Group, with a registered capital of 100 million yuan [8]. - Aixin Yuanzhi, a major shareholder in the joint venture, has shifted its focus to automotive chips after acquiring a subsidiary of Dahua Technology [8].

Core Insights - A domestic intelligent driving chip, the Horizon Journey series, has achieved a production and shipment milestone of over 10 million units, making Horizon the first domestic intelligent driving technology company to reach this level of shipment volume [1] Company Summary - Horizon has become the first domestic intelligent driving technology enterprise to surpass a shipment volume of 10 million units, indicating significant growth and market penetration in the intelligent driving sector [1]

申请入围"中国IC独角兽" 半导体高质量发展创新成果征集 在当下中国汽车智驾产业的发展进程中，自研芯片成为一股不可忽视的力量。从市场份额数据来看，不同企业的自研芯片各有表现。盖世汽车研究院数据 显示，2024年上半年，英伟达Orin-X以近73万颗的装机量，占据35.9%市场份额，在国内智驾芯片市场仍占据重要地位。但中国本土企业也在奋力追赶， 不断抢占市场份额。其中，地平线、华为、黑芝麻智能、蔚来汽车等企业已推出多款具备国际竞争力的产品。这些芯片在算力、能效比、量产进度及生态 布局方面展现出差异化优势，逐步挑战英伟达Orin的统治地位。 地平线作为国内智驾科技领域的佼佼者，根据高工智能汽车研究院数据，2024年上半年凭借征程系列计算方案，以28.65%的份额位居市场第一，在自主 品牌乘用车前视一体机计算方案市场（L2ADAS）更是以33.73%的市场份额跃居首位。其征程家族产品覆盖低、中、高阶全场景智驾量产需求，累计出货 量已超600万套，并且已经赋能超80家生态伙伴推出成熟产品，超40家投入主机厂定点及量产项目，强大的市场影响力和广泛的客户基础，使其在市场竞 争中优势明显。 黑芝麻智能同样表现不俗，2022 ...

Core Insights - Nvidia's flagship Thor autonomous driving chip, initially planned for mass production in 2024, has faced multiple delays, potentially pushing the timeline to 2026, with only a low-performance version expected to be available [1][5][9] Group 1: Product Delays and Impacts - The Thor chip, boasting a peak performance of 2000 TOPS, was anticipated to dominate the market but has encountered significant production delays, affecting Nvidia's market strategy and partnerships with automotive companies [3][5][9] - The delays have led automotive manufacturers, such as Xiaopeng Motors, to accelerate their own chip development efforts, reducing reliance on Nvidia [9][11] Group 2: Technical Challenges - The production issues are attributed to design challenges with the Blackwell GPU architecture, which is tailored for large language models and generative AI, as well as potential manufacturing defects identified by TSMC [7][11] - The complexity of the chip architecture and external supply chain challenges, including U.S. export controls on semiconductor manufacturing, have further complicated the production timeline [7][11][16] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Competitors like Qualcomm and Mobileye are launching integrated automotive computing solutions, increasing pressure on Nvidia to ensure Thor's performance and functionality remain superior [11][13] - The trend of automotive companies developing their own chips is growing, which could diminish Nvidia's market dominance as firms seek to reduce dependency on external suppliers [13][16] Group 4: Strategic Concerns for Nvidia - Nvidia's automotive business, while previously a strong growth engine, still represents a small portion of the company's overall revenue, raising concerns about its long-term viability if delays continue [16] - The ongoing delays and competition may jeopardize Nvidia's relationships with key automotive partners, as seen with Mercedes-Benz, which has expressed frustration over unmet product expectations [16]

Group 1 - Nvidia's Thor chip production has been delayed to mid-2025, falling behind the original schedule by a year and only offering a low-performance version with 750 TOPS [1][2] - The initial promise for mass production was set for 2024, a critical year for Chinese automakers transitioning in the electric vehicle market, but technical issues and global chip supply chain constraints have caused delays [2][3] - The chip's design integrates multiple functions, including autonomous driving and infotainment, which presents significant technical challenges, compounded by reliance on advanced manufacturing processes from TSMC [3][4] Group 2 - Chinese automaker NIO has developed its own smart driving chip, the NIO Godson NX9031, which was officially launched in December 2023, aiming to reduce dependency on Nvidia and enhance software-hardware synergy [5][6] - The NX9031 chip utilizes a 5nm process, offering superior performance compared to Nvidia's Orin chip, and is designed to support NIO's autonomous driving system [6] - NIO plans to integrate the NX9031 into its ET9 model by Q4 2024, with large-scale production expected in 2025, while still using Nvidia's solutions as a transitional measure [6] Group 3 - The development of domestic smart driving chips in China has progressed, with companies like NIO and Horizon attempting to break the dominance of international giants like Nvidia and Qualcomm [7][8] - Despite advancements, domestic chips face challenges in technology maturity and market competition, with predictions indicating that by 2025, only 30% of the market will be occupied by self-developed chips from Chinese automakers [7][9] - The competitive landscape is stratified, with Nvidia's Drive Thor and Qualcomm's Snapdragon Ride Flex expected to dominate the high-end market, while domestic chips are primarily focused on mid-range and low-end segments [9][10]