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Audi and Huawei teamed up in making a name to their new collaboration over autonomous vehicles in China. They have managed a partnership in order to jointly develop Level 4 self-governing tech features for Chinese vehicles regarding full control in specific areas. Huawei demonstrated a prototype Q7 SUV equipped with its Mobile Data Center. It would combine the essential processing power for autonomy with cameras and sensors. Both have signed a memorandum of understanding in the month of July and have reportedly been testing since September.

They haven’t yet disclosed much regarding their team-up. It is noteworthy that Audi poised to launch a development center in China in 2019. The company didn’t have much choice if it wanted to enter the category in China. The Verge pointed out that China imposes strict restrictions on the permissions for testing self-driving vehicles, including maps. The country sees foreign ownership of detailed map data as a security concern. Brands like Mercedes-Benz have formed partnerships with Baidu and other local companies to prevent these regulatory headaches and get on the road quickly. If Audi didn’t cooperate with Huawei, it risked trailing its rivals or having to skip the entire market.