On March 18, Chery hosted a conference in Wuhu, Anhui, unveiling advancements in smart driving, humanoid robotics, and intelligent cockpit systems. At the center of the event was Falcon, the company’s next-generation smart driving system, which Chery plans to implement across all its brands and models by 2025.
According to Gao Xinhua, executive vice president of Chery, Falcon’s intelligence stems from an end-to-end large model and sensor fusion technology, enabling precise environmental perception and millisecond-level decision-making. The result? A smart driving assistant designed to handle an extensive range of real-world scenarios.
The system is structured into three tiers:
- Falcon 500, which integrates an artificial intelligence-powered driving system with navigation-on-pilot (NOP), memory-based urban navigation, and automated memory parking.
- Falcon 700, which expands on the 500’s features with increased computing power, supporting highway and urban navigate-on-autopilot (NOA), valet parking, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
- Falcon 900, the most advanced version, leverages vision-language-action (VLA) and world models to enable Level 3 autonomous driving, enabling a more refined hands-free experience.
To demonstrate Falcon’s capabilities, Chery deployed a fleet of self-driving vehicles, which successfully crossed the Baishazhou Yangtze River Bridge in full NOP-assisted mode, with no human intervention.
Chery is expanding its smart driving technology across its vehicle lineup. By the end of 2025, more than 30 models, including fuel-powered, hybrid, extended-range, and pure electric vehicles, will integrate the Falcon smart driving system. The system is being developed concurrently for international markets to facilitate broader adoption.
The smart edition of the Chery eQ1 highlights the application of smart driving in entry-level EVs, offering autonomous parking, remote parking, and highway NOA navigation at a price point of RMB 60,000 (USD 8,400).
According to Chery, Falcon’s autonomous driving capabilities have been adapted to accommodate varied driving conditions, including European roundabouts, Middle Eastern desert highways, and densely populated roads in Southeast Asia. The company has also obtained European Union certifications for vehicle cybersecurity and over-the-air software updates. Its fleet has collectively logged 4.5 billion kilometers in autonomous driving. By 2026, Chery plans to introduce higher-level autonomous vehicles to the European market.
Flagship models will lead the rollout. The Exeed Sterra ET (marketed internationally as Exeed Exlantix ET) will come standard with Falcon 700, equipped with 30 sensors and dual Nvidia Drive Orin chips. The iCar V23 will feature Falcon 500, supporting highway NOA and autonomous parking via a 22-sensor array, while the Tiggo 9, a fuel-powered SUV, will also integrate Falcon 500.
Chery has also extended Falcon’s smart driving capabilities to off-road environments, complementing its highway and urban navigation functions. The system is designed to operate beyond paved roads, supporting point-to-point navigation across varying terrains.
Beyond smart driving, Chery is developing robotics, flying cars, robotaxi services, and unmanned minibuses, reflecting its focus on AI-driven mobility solutions.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This article was written by Han Yongchang for 36Kr.