Computer graphics chip maker Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) has formed a strategic partnership with ZF and HELLA focused on the self-driving vehicles market.
ZF TRW Automotive Holdings Corp (NYSE:TRW) , one of the industry's largest vehicle suppliers, and Germany’s HELLA, a leading supplier of camera perception software and sensor technologies, will provide customers with a complete self-driving system that integrates front camera units, as well as supporting software functions and radar systems.
Nvidia, for its part, will provide its PX AI (artificial intelligence) platform to enable its partners to develop software ranging from driver assistance systems to full-blown robo-driver systems.
"Creating a self-driving car is one of society's most important endeavors -- and one of the most challenging to deliver," claimed Jensen Huang, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of NVIDIA.
Dr Stefan Sommer, the CEO of ZF Friedrichshafen AG, said: "We are building up a powerful ecosystem step by step. Earlier this year ZF became the first supplier to adopt NVIDIA AI technology for cars and commercial vehicles in the ZF ProAI box. Just a few days ago HELLA and ZF joined forces in a non-exclusive partnership, and now together we are partnering with NVIDIA to make our roads safer and to support the development of autonomous driving functions."
Nvidia said the agreement with ZF and HELLA was non-exclusive.
Shares in Nvidia opened 1.6% lower at US$149.66 on the news.