Horizon Robotics

{{Infobox company

| name = Horizon Robotics, Inc.

| native_name = 地平线

| logo = Horizon Robotics.svg

| former_name =

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{HKEX|9660}}

| foundation = {{start date and age|2015|07|21}}

| location = Beijing, China

| founders = {{ubl

|Yu Kai

|Huang Chang

|Tao Feiwen

}}

| key_people = Yu Kai (CEO)

| revenue = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|2.38 billion}} (2024)

| net_income = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|2.35 billion}} (2024)

| assets = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|20.38 billion}} (2024)

| industry = Artificial intelligence
Semiconductors

| equity = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|11.91 billion}} (2024)

| num_employees = {{Increase}} 2,078 (2024)

| homepage = {{Official URL}}

| footnotes = {{cite web |title=2024 Annual Report |url=https://ir-upload.realxen.net/iis/9660/uploads/iis/2025/11580020-0.PDF |website=Horizon Robotics |date=2025|access-date=March 25, 2025 }}

}}

Horizon Robotics, Inc. ({{Zh|c=|p=Dìpíngxiàn|s=地平线}}) is a Chinese technology company headquartered in Beijing. The company develops artificial intelligence (AI) chips used in self-driving cars and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

Background

Horizon Robotics was founded in 2015 by several former Baidu employees, including Yu Kai who previously led Baidu's self-driving car division.{{Cite web |last=Lucas |first=Louise |date=27 November 2018 |title=Chinese AI chipmaker Horizon Robotics raises up to $1bn |url=https://www.ft.com/content/bea3090c-f15c-11e8-ae55-df4bf40f9d0d |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=Financial Times |archive-date=28 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128195241/https://www.ft.com/content/bea3090c-f15c-11e8-ae55-df4bf40f9d0d |url-status=live }}

The company was funded by notable investors that included Intel, Hillhouse Investment, HongShan, Yuri Milner, Sinovation Ventures and Yunfeng Capital.{{Cite news |last=Liu |first=John |date=8 October 2021 |title=China Chip Firm Horizon Robotics Eyes Moving U.S. IPO to Hong Kong |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-08/china-ai-chip-firm-horizon-robotics-said-to-eye-moving-u-s-ipo-to-hong-kong |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=Bloomberg News |language=en |archive-date=18 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221118224631/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-10-08/china-ai-chip-firm-horizon-robotics-said-to-eye-moving-u-s-ipo-to-hong-kong |url-status=live }} Other backers include BYD, Chery and CATL.{{Cite news |last=Li |first=Pei |date=11 March 2024 |title=Intel-Backed Horizon Picks Banks for $500 Million Hong Kong IPO |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-11/intel-backed-horizon-picks-banks-for-500-million-hong-kong-ipo |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=Bloomberg News |language=en |archive-date=11 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311114851/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-11/intel-backed-horizon-picks-banks-for-500-million-hong-kong-ipo |url-status=live }} Due to the United States New Export Controls on Advanced Computing and Semiconductors to China, Horizon Robotics attracted more interest from investors who felt it could be an alternative to Nvidia in China which had to abide with selling restrictions.{{Cite web |last=Liao |first=Rita |date=27 September 2022 |title=Investors bank on China's alternatives to Nvidia's auto chips |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/26/china-auto-chipmaker/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=17 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817145332/https://techcrunch.com/2022/09/26/china-auto-chipmaker/ |url-status=live }}

In December 2017, Horizon Robotics launched Journey 1.0, the first generation of its AI chips used in vehicles. It would help cars recognize external objects in a low power consumption manner.{{Cite web |last=Si |first=Ma |date=21 December 2017 |title=Horizon Robotics unveils AI-tailored processor |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201712/21/WS5a3b7e2ea31008cf16da2b40.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn |archive-date=14 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314121519/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201712/21/WS5a3b7e2ea31008cf16da2b40.html |url-status=live }}

Originally Horizon Robotics planned to hold an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States that could raise as much as $1 billion. However, in October 2021, it was reported that it changed its IPO country to Hong Kong instead. This came at a time where the Chinese government was increasing scrutiny of overseas listings.

In October 2022, Volkswagen Group invested $2.3 billion to establish a joint venture (JV) with Horizon Robotics. The JV was named Carizon and was aimed to develop in-house vehicle software for Volkswagen.{{Cite web |last=Shen |first=Jill |date=11 December 2023 |title=VW's JV to hire 300 workers with Horizon Robotics · TechNode |url=http://technode.com/2023/12/11/volkswagens-china-jv-with-horizon-robotics-to-hire-300-workers/ |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=TechNode |language=en-US |archive-date=26 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426150854/https://technode.com/2023/12/11/volkswagens-china-jv-with-horizon-robotics-to-hire-300-workers/ |url-status=live }}

At the 2023 World Internet Conference, Yu announced that the number of vehicles featuring navigate on autopilot (NoA) equipped with Horizon Robotics chips has surpassed that of Nvidia.{{Cite web |last=Strom |first=Eifeh |date=15 November 2023 |title=Horizon Robotics calls next-gen self-driving chip revolutionary |url=https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20231114PD212/horizon-robotics-navigate-on-autopilot-noa-self-driving-ic-autonomous-driving-chinese-chipmakers.html |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=DIGITIMES |language=en}} According to a report from China Money Network, Horizon Robotics controlled 49% of the Chinese self-driving chip market in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Butts |first=Dylan |date=5 December 2023 |title=Chinese chip makers plan to invest billions on R&D, production in Hong Kong |url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3243961/chinese-automotive-chip-manufacturers-plan-invest-billions-hong-kong-amid-citys-push-reindustrialise |access-date=6 July 2024 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en |archive-date=1 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701235435/https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3243961/chinese-automotive-chip-manufacturers-plan-invest-billions-hong-kong-amid-citys-push-reindustrialise |url-status=live }}

In March 2024, Horizon Robotics submitted its IPO application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange expected to raise $500 million. In October 2024, the offering was priced at the top of its price range raising $696 million.{{Cite news |last=Pei |first=Li |date=2024-10-23 |title=Baillie Gifford, Norges Said to Invest in Horizon Robotics Hong Kong IPO |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-23/baillie-gifford-norges-said-to-invest-in-horizon-robotics-hong-kong-ipo |access-date=2024-10-23 |work=Bloomberg News |language=en}}

In January 2025, Horizon Robotics announced its goal of shipping over 10 million chips in 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-03 |title=China's Horizon Robotics targets 10 million automotive chips in 2025 |url=https://www.digitimes.com/news/a20250102PD230/horizon-robotics-chips-2025-market-2024.html |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=DIGITIMES |language=en}}

Products

While Horizon Robotics mainly focuses on developing AI chips used in the automobile industry, it also develops AI chips that are used in surveillance cameras and other internet-connected smart devices. It holds partnerships with Chery, Audi, SAIC Motor and SK Telecom.