According to three people familiar with the matter, Huawei has asked whether Mercedes -Benz and Volkswagen's Audi is interested in buying a small amount of shares of its smart car software and component companies.
They said that the move was designed to extend the cooperative relationship outside the Chinese brand.According to one of the people familiar with the matter, Huawei also hopes that the introduction of foreign investors will help protect their business from further influence of geopolitical tensions.Since 2019, Huawei has been the US sanctions goal.
This Chinese technology giant said last month that the smart car solution (IAS) business department (BU), which will be split four years, is trying to become the main maintenance of smart electric vehicles (EV) software and componentssupplier.
It was previously reported that the department's valuation will be between US $ 28 and 35 billion.
According to two sources, Huawei held preliminary talks with Mercedes -Benz in recent weeks.A source said that Huawei agreed to sell 3-5%of the shares to the latter, and the valuation is yet to be negotiated.
But the source added that Mercedes -Benz is not very interested because it wants to continue to control its own software to maintain high -end brand positioning instead of outsourcing to suppliers.
Audi's interest in Huawei is not determined for the time being.
But the two sources said that Audi and Huawei are planning to cooperate to develop autonomous driving technology for Audi.These technologies will be used in the Chinese market from 2025, and will be produced by the joint venture between Audi and FAW Group.
Because the discussion is confidential, sources are unwilling to name.
Mercedes -Benz refuses to speculate on the speculation.Audi also refused to comment.Huawei did not respond to the comments request.
Weilai, BYD and other China's most well -known electric vehicle manufacturers rely on their own software, and Huawei has established small electric vehicle manufacturers such as Selis and some large -scale and old -fashioned car manufacturers such as Chongqing Changan Automobile.Cooperation relationship.
Changan Automobile said that once Huawei splits the smart car business, Changan Automobile will become its investor, and the shareholding ratio of related parties will not exceed 40%.
Yu Chengdong, the person in charge of the business of Huawei Smart Enterprise, said in November that Huawei has invited Selis, Chery Automobile, JAC and BAIC Group to invest in the smart car company, and hopes that FAW Group can also join.
Sources said Dongfeng Motors is another potential investor of the company.
