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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.

Volkswagen Plans Entry-Level Electric Car for Europe at €20,000 in 2027

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Volkswagen announced that its upcoming entry-level electric car, expected to be priced around €20,000 ($21,580), will primarily target the European market when it is released in 2027. The company aims to reduce battery costs by then to meet the affordability goal for the vehicle. This model will be the first to feature software developed through Volkswagen’s joint venture with U.S.-based electric vehicle maker Rivian. The collaboration will reduce the need for electronic control units and minimize wiring, making the car lighter and simplifying the manufacturing process.

The company is planning to launch eight new affordable electric models by 2027, including the ID.2, a €25,000 vehicle slated for release this year. While there are only a few models priced under €20,000 in Europe, such as the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor’s T03, 11 new electric vehicles priced under €25,000 will be available this year, including the Renault R5, Fiat Grand Panda, and Hyundai Inster.

Volkswagen’s effort to create affordable EVs is a response to the growing competition from Chinese manufacturers. The company is also focusing on cost-cutting and streamlining its operations to ensure it has the resources needed to invest in more affordable models. The brand’s previous talks with Renault to jointly produce an affordable electric Twingo collapsed last year, leaving Renault to proceed with the project independently, with plans to launch the vehicle in 2026.

Dassault Systèmes Forecasts Higher Sales and Earnings in 2025

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Dassault Systèmes has projected revenue growth of 6% to 8% for 2025, an improvement from 5% in the previous year, driven by stronger software sales in late 2024. The French software firm, which serves the automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors, also expects diluted earnings per share to rise to between 1.36 and 1.39 euros, up from 1.20 euros in 2024. Additionally, its operating margin is forecasted to increase to a range of 32.6%–32.9%, compared to 31.9% last year.

The positive outlook follows improved performance in Dassault’s software division, where revenue grew 9% in Q4 to 1.60 billion euros, supported by strong demand in the aerospace and defense sectors. The company’s flagship 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which offers 3D modeling, data management, and project management tools, saw sales growth of 22% in Q4—up from 21% in the same quarter of 2023 and recovering from a 10% decline in Q3 2024.

Dassault also announced a long-term partnership with Volkswagen to optimize the automaker’s engineering and manufacturing processes, though financial details were not disclosed.

Meanwhile, revenue at Medidata, Dassault’s clinical trial data analytics unit, increased by just 1% in Q4, an area closely monitored by investors.

Analysts at Stifel described the results as solid despite macroeconomic challenges but noted that the company’s 2025 guidance remains cautious. Dassault’s shares rose up to 2.5% at market open before stabilizing.