China-based EV company Nio will adopt NXP Semiconductors' 4D imaging radar technology, according to an announcement on May 2. Only last month, the carmaker invested in a domestic startup developing the same solution.
NXP said on Tuesday that Nio will leverage its 4D imaging radar solution but did not reveal details such as the model that will adopt the technology. It added that the imaging radar solution will enable cars to detect and classify objects like other vehicles and vulnerable road users at distances of up to 300 meters in highway or urban scenarios.
According to NXP, the solution enhances radar's capabilities to measure direction, angle of arrival, and elevation, in addition to distance and speed. The fine-resolution clouds also advance environmental mapping and scene understanding, broadening the range of detection and object classification. NXP said its imaging radar technology can measure an object's velocity under almost all weather and light conditions.
Kevin Pan, assistant vice president of NIO supply chain development, said in the announcement that the EV maker will be able to take the next step toward developing high-level, assisted intelligent driving experiences with NXP's solution.
Nio just invested in radar technology in April. According to CnEVPost, Nio Capital and Xiaomi's investment fund led a series-A funding round of Sinpro, a China-based 4D imaging radar manufacturer. William Li, Nio's founder, chairman, and CEO, is Nio Capital's managing partner.
Nio debuted its new all-round SUV, ES6, at the Shanghai auto show last month and plans to launch it in late May. The EV company said it delivered 6,658 cars in April, making deliveries in the first four months of this year reach 37,699 vehicles, a 22.2% increase from 2022.
