AutoChips, the automotive chip subsidiary of NavInfo, has unveiled the AC8035, a sixth-generation automotive system-on-chip. According to a Chinese report carried by Sina, the company presented the chip at a NavInfo conference on November 6. The platform is intended to combine cockpit computing, driver assistance, and parking into a single chip configuration.
Engineering samples for the AC8035 are planned for the first quarter of 2027. The proposed design supports smart-cockpit workloads, L2/L2+ driver assistance, and automated parking, while also supporting the operation of large AI models on the device. The announcement provides a development platform and sample timetable but does not confirm volume production or any vehicles currently using the chip.
NavInfo CEO Cheng Peng stated that chip design must anticipate future applications because automotive semiconductor development takes longer than the rapid upgrade cycle of AI models. According to a report by the Chinese automotive technology outlet Chedongxi, the new design includes headroom in areas such as memory bandwidth to accommodate subsequent model updates. Cheng also claimed the design can support always-on multimodal interaction without a wake word. While Cheng claimed the memory bandwidth is two to three times that of comparable products, the report does not specify a test configuration or independently assessed benchmark. These remain executive claims and have not been demonstrated in production-vehicle performance.
The integration of these functions is intended to reduce separate controllers and associated hardware, which may simplify a vehicle's computing architecture.
Cheng also emphasized data governance as part of the wider automotive offering. Chedongxi quotes his overseas approach as “localizing data, globalizing models,” which involves adapting delivery and data handling to local laws while building reusable model capabilities. He stated that compliance and privacy protection need to be designed into the data loop, rather than being added after a vehicle is ready for sale.
