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Nvidia to Build Germany’s First Industrial AI Cloud, Boosting Europe’s AI Infrastructure

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Nvidia announced plans to develop its first artificial intelligence cloud platform for industrial applications in Germany, CEO Jensen Huang said Wednesday at the VivaTech conference in Paris. The AI cloud will combine artificial intelligence with robotics to support automotive giants like BMW and Mercedes-Benz in tasks ranging from product design simulation to logistics management.

Huang also detailed a broader Europe-focused strategy including expanding Nvidia technology centers across seven countries, launching a compute marketplace for European companies, and advancing AI models in multiple languages. The company is supporting drug discovery efforts with partners like Novo Nordisk.

“In just two years, we will increase the amount of AI computing capacity in Europe by a factor of 10,” Huang declared during his nearly two-hour presentation.

Europe is embracing the concept of “AI factories,” large-scale infrastructures dedicated to AI model development, training, and deployment. Huang announced plans for 20 such AI factories across the continent.

Huang is scheduled to visit Berlin Friday and is expected to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, signaling political support for the initiative.

Though specifics about the plant’s location, cost, and construction timeline were not disclosed, the move could be a win for Germany’s ruling coalition following recent setbacks with Intel and Wolfspeed suspending factory plans.

While Europe trails the U.S. and China in AI development, the European Commission revealed a $20 billion investment plan to build four AI factories earlier this year.

Additionally, Nvidia is partnering with European AI startup Mistral to power AI computing using 18,000 latest Nvidia chips for European enterprises.

“Sovereign AI is an imperative—no company, industry or nation can outsource its intelligence,” Huang said.

He emphasized the importance of AI adoption to avoid falling behind globally and expressed optimism about quantum computing’s near-term impact, noting it could solve complex problems beyond even advanced AI systems.

This announcement reinforces Nvidia’s role as a global AI infrastructure leader and marks a significant step in strengthening Europe’s AI ecosystem.

Ecarx in Talks with Volkswagen to Develop Smart Cars for Europe, US

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Ecarx, a Chinese digital cockpit system developer, is in discussions with Volkswagen to integrate its advanced technologies into smart cars for developed markets, including Europe and the United States, according to Ecarx’s CEO, Shen Ziyu. The two companies are looking to extend their current partnership, which already includes collaboration in Brazil and India. In these markets, Ecarx’s Antora 1000 digital cockpit system—featuring proprietary chips, voice recognition, and navigation services—powers Volkswagen’s smart car offerings.

The expanded partnership would bring Ecarx’s products into Skoda-branded cars sold in Europe. Shen confirmed discussions about entering the U.S. market, although the current deal with Volkswagen does not yet include this scope. However, Ecarx’s technologies are already present in Volvo and Lotus vehicles in the U.S., as both brands are owned by Geely, the parent company of Ecarx.

A Volkswagen spokesperson clarified that the cooperation with Ecarx is currently limited to providing an infotainment system for internal combustion engine vehicles sold in Brazil and India, with no other technical involvement at this stage. Meanwhile, Skoda declined to comment on the ongoing discussions.

This move highlights growing interest among Western automakers in leveraging Chinese expertise in smart driving technologies. As traditional car sales have been hit by declining demand in China, companies like Volkswagen are turning to Chinese suppliers to stay competitive in the global market. Mercedes-Benz recently made headlines by collaborating with Hesai, a Chinese firm, to equip its vehicles with lidar sensors, marking the first instance of a foreign automaker using Chinese technology for models sold outside China.

Shen emphasized that it took over a year for Volkswagen to choose Ecarx as its smart technology supplier, with other candidates including LG and Samsung from South Korea, as well as Chinese rival Desay SV. He also noted that the development of software for consumer electronics, including semiconductors, is largely still based in Asia, which has contributed to challenges in software development in Europe.

Ecarx, which generates 70% of its revenue from Geely and its affiliated brands, aims to reduce this reliance to under 50% by 2028. The company plans to diversify further by growing its international revenue, with a goal of generating half of its income from overseas by 2030. To support this, Ecarx has been building R&D teams outside of China to mitigate concerns about geopolitical risks tied to Chinese technologies.

Shen also emphasized that China’s competitive cost structure can help strengthen the company’s supply chain globally. The shorter product cycles typically seen in China—lasting just three years—can be extended to 10 or 15 years in international markets, according to Shen.

China’s Chery Assembles Cars in Russian Plants Vacated by Western Firms

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Chinese automaker Chery has begun assembling cars in Russia at three factories vacated by Western companies, such as Volkswagen and Mercedes, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As Chinese brands now dominate more than half of Russia’s car sales, Chery is expanding its role in the country’s manufacturing sector by importing nearly finished cars and completing assembly domestically. This development underscores China’s growing influence in Russia’s economy and industrial landscape.

Chery has taken over production lines once owned by Western firms, including Nissan, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz. In St. Petersburg, the Nissan plant is now producing rebranded Chery models, like the Tiggo 7 SUV, which is being sold as the Xcite X-Cross 7 in Russia. In Kaluga, Tiggo crossovers are being assembled in a factory previously operated by Volkswagen. In the Moscow region, a plant formerly owned by Mercedes-Benz is producing Chery’s Exeed VX model, a luxury mid-size crossover.

Chery’s “semi knocked down” (SKD) strategy involves importing nearly complete vehicles to Russia, where the final assembly takes place at these facilities. Chery has already witnessed significant sales growth in Russia, nearly quadrupling its car sales to over 200,000 vehicles in 2023. With plans to enter more than 60 new markets in the coming years, the company is also poised to expand further, despite new tariffs imposed by the European Union on Chinese electric vehicles.

Russia, on the other hand, has been raising tariffs on car imports, making local assembly an attractive option for foreign manufacturers. This trend is part of a broader shift in Russia’s automotive industry as Chinese firms fill the gap left by Western brands. Although Chery has yet to confirm any plans to build or acquire its own factories in Russia, its expanding production in the country reflects growing collaboration between China and Russia amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.