(Yicai) July 15 -- BMW Group’s Chinese arm is teaming up with Momenta to integrate the Chinese startup’s advanced driver-assistance system into some of its China-made Neue Klasse electric vehicle lineup, as part of the German carmaker’s push to sharpen its competitive edge in China.

The ADAS system, based on Momenta’s intelligent driving training model Flywheel, will offer full-scenario, point-to-point navigation assistance across both highway and urban environments, the Beijing-based autonomous driving startup announced today.

To accelerate its shift toward electrification and smart mobility, BMW unveiled plans in 2023 to launch a series of next‑generation models. The first, the BMW iX3 L, debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show this April and is slated to go on sale in China next year, followed by several more new models over the subsequent two years.

According to the plan, production of the Neue Klasse models will be localized at its joint venture factory in Shenyang in northeastern China. To support the move, BMW invested an additional CNY20 billion (USD2.8 billion) in April last year to upgrade the plant’s facilities and technology.

China, as a global innovation hub, has become a key pillar in BMW’s long-term development strategy, Sean Green, president and chief executive of BMW China, said at today’s signing ceremony. BMW China will continue to pursue an open-technology approach and, through deep collaboration with partners, meet user expectations for intelligent mobility, he added.

Facing growing competition from Tesla and Chinese EV makers, BMW’s first-quarter deliveries fell 17 percent to 155,200 units in China in the first quarter from a year earlier. The decline weighed on its global earnings, with net profit and revenue dropping 26 percent and 8 percent to EUR2.2 billion (USD2.6 billion) and EUR33.8 billion (USD39.4 billion), respectively.

Founded in 2016, Momenta operates in two core areas: ADAS and robotaxis. By the end of last year, its ADAS systems had been integrated into 26 mass-produced vehicle models through partnerships with major domestic and international automakers, including General Motors, Toyota Motor, Honda Motor, and SAIC Motor.

Editor: Emmi Laine