Marelli, leading global automotive supplier, and WHST (Wuhu SensorTech Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.), a high-tech radar specialist headquartered in Wuhu (China), signed a master cooperation agreement focused on radar sensors, devoted to Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving (AD) applications.

In the frame of the agreement, WHST will provide technology and engineering services related to radar integration, on an exclusive basis aimed at Chinese market. The cooperation will broaden up in scope also to other Regions in the world. Specifically, the collaboration will focus on radars using 77GHz and 79GHz applications for 4D radar to be integrated by Marelli into headlamps, rear lamps, smart grilles but also standalone corner and long-range radar and newest cockpit radar technology.

Radar sensors are key technologies for enabling ADAS functions and to develop AD systems. In particular, also according to IHS Markit data, radars market will gain growing relevance in the next 10 years, with increasing volumes in automotive market. Especially, this kind of radars will be a crucial factor to enable Level 2 and Level 3 of Autonomous Driving in vehicles.

In this field, WHST is a Chinese company with more than 350 employees, focused on providing radar solutions for the automotive industry but also for traffic, security and other industrial applications

“We are extremely glad to begin this close collaboration with WHST, as a supplier for strategic sensors like radars, on the key Chinese market and then also on a broader scale.” stated Sylvain Dubois, CEO of Marelli’s Automotive Lighting division. “This agreement lies in the path of the ongoing evolution of the automotive lighting sector: with the “eyes” of the cars increasingly changing over the years, as Marelli Automotive Lighting we have already started our strategy to integrate into our solutions and offer the best technologies for sensor perception and integration, in order to enable ADAS and the various levels of AD.”

For Marelli this marks a further step in the commitment to the area of ADAS and Autonomous Driving, where the company has been focusing since several years its competence, by leveraging its own longstanding capabilities and also by forming strategic partnerships. Within the ADAS/AD domain, Marelli has been a forerunner with the introduction of the Smart Corner™, a solution integrating sensors for autonomous driving within vehicle headlamps and tail lamps, which was named a CES® 2019 Innovation Awards Honoree. Marelli operates also in the LiDAR field through strategic partnerships.

DR Yi Qin, CEO of WHST confirmed that “Today Marelli Automotive Lighting and WHST are entering an agreement to develop the smart corner project hand in hand. It has been a great privilege to work with Marelli, who is a world leading independent automotive supplier. In contrast, WHST is a very young company who is eager to bring innovations to automotive industry. Through this partnership, we are agreed to lavish resources to joint develop this project that enable us to face the more and more challenging market. Over a period of one year, Marelli and WHST have been working as a team of one, developing an exciting Smart corner project integrating our radar with lighting from Marelli. I hope this is the first step of working towards deeper partnership.”

About Marelli

MARELLI is one of the world’s leading global independent suppliers to the automotive sector. With a strong and established track record in innovation and manufacturing excellence, our mission is to transform the future of mobility through working with customers and partners to create a safer, greener and better-connected world. With around 60,000 employees worldwide, the MARELLI footprint includes 170 facilities and R&D centers across Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa, generating revenues of 13.6 Billion Euro (JPY 1,664 billion) in 2019.

About WHST

With almost 100% growth rate for the past three years, WHST, is the China’s leading manufacturer of millimetre wave radar, Lidar sensor, and systems. Headquarter in WuHu China, WHST has been driving sustainable progress and helping customers build a better product through innovative radar sensors and services. Throughout the product life cycle, WHST offers sensors built on cutting-edge technology and decades of product expertise. The company is dedicated to the highest standards of quality and excellence of its products as well as total customer satisfaction.