Jan 26 (GeokHub) — Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast said on Monday it has partnered with artificial intelligence firm Autobrains to develop advanced autonomous driving technology, including a low-cost self-driving system dubbed a “Robo-Car,” as it seeks to accelerate its push into driver-assistance and autonomy while cutting costs.
The partnership is expected to help VinFast move away from expensive autonomy strategies by adopting a camera-based system, potentially allowing faster deployment of self-driving features after years of costly and delayed development efforts across the auto industry.
Focus on Driver Assistance First
Under the agreement, VinFast and Autobrains will initially focus on enhancing driver-assistance technology for upcoming VinFast electric vehicles, building on the automaker’s existing Level 2 autonomy capabilities, which include features such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.
Pilot testing of the upgraded system is already underway on VinFast’s VF 8 and VF 9 models. The companies said they plan to gradually roll out more advanced features across VinFast’s broader vehicle lineup.
Camera-Based ‘Robo-Car’ Architecture
Beyond driver assistance, the partnership will explore a new Robo-Car self-driving architecture designed to achieve higher levels of autonomy without relying on costly LiDAR sensors, radar arrays or high-definition maps.
The approach mirrors that of Tesla, using a setup based on seven standard cameras combined with a compact, high-performance computing chip. The companies said this configuration could deliver autonomous driving capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional systems.
Testing of the Robo-Car technology is currently underway in controlled zones in Hanoi, with plans to expand trials to larger cities in Vietnam and select international markets.
Cost and Scalability in Focus
As competition intensifies in the global EV market, automakers are increasingly seeking scalable, lower-cost autonomy solutions. VinFast’s collaboration with Autobrains highlights a broader industry shift toward camera-driven systems aimed at making advanced driver assistance and self-driving features more commercially viable.
