Luxeed S7 gains highly capable self-driving ability

This upgrade imbues the vehicle with five critical functions and augments it with over 15 user experience enhancements.

Despite a lukewarm market reception initially, the S7, which made its debut last year, has seen a gradual uptick in demand, achieving its best retail figures in February with 794 units sold. The brand leverages Huawei's extensive retail network to reach potential customers, and this strategic alliance has been integral to Luxeed's sales strategy.

At the heart of the OTA update is the Urban NCA (Navigation Cruise Assist), reminiscent of Tesla's Full Self-Driving software. This feature, a part of the Huawei ADS Package, boasts a self-driving suite requiring no high-precision maps. It covers an extensive array of road types and nearly 99% of available road sections nationwide, enhancing its usability. The Urban NCA includes sophisticated capabilities that allow the vehicle to autonomously execute navigation routes, change lanes, acknowledge traffic signals, yield at pedestrian crossings, and circumnavigate barriers.

While flaunting its advanced autonomy, Urban NCA emphasizes driver presence through a two-tiered hands-on detection system. The stricter level proffers reminders to the driver at 15-second intervals to maintain contact with the steering wheel, and in contrast, the comfort mode prolongs this period to 40 seconds.

The NCA is designed to comply with speed limits and incorporates the LCC Plus system, which comes into play when there's no programmed destination. It equips the car to respect traffic signals by adjusting speed accordantly and resuming movement on green. The system allows for seamless transitioning between navigation-driven and manual modes.

A noteworthy addition to the navigation system is its smart 'frequently visited' feature, which learns from the driver's habits and recommends familiar destinations, streamlining the travel experience with a single-click direction.

The OTA update also introduces the Valet Park Assist (AVP), which, after a learning phase, lets the S7 autonomously navigate to a parking spot within a car park. Usage prerequisites include an active ADS package, firmware updated to V4.1.2.5, a valet parking test completed on the HarmonyOS App, and an active, full-screen Huawei Smart Drive App before entry.

Further enhancements from the OTA include refined ADS safety features, such as new lateral collision avoidance systems; smart cockpit improvements with a 3D control interface, new seating configurations, and updates to the Xiaoyi digital assistant.

The Luxeed S7's sensor suite, which underpins the Huawei ADS 2.0, is as robust as it gets—sporting a lidar, multiple radars, ultrasonic sensors, and high-definition cameras. These intricate arrays are what give the S7 its cutting-edge autonomous driving abilities. The vehicle is price-positioned between 249,800 yuan to 349,800 yuan ($34,600 to $48,450 USD).

Huawei's leadership in the self-driving arena places it among giants like XPeng, Nio, and Li Auto, with all contenders boasting comparable capabilities on paper. However, Huawei sets itself apart by offering its autonomous driving solutions to various OEMs as a readymade option.