The production line of Lotus Cars in WEDZ. [Photo/WeChat account: whkfq]
The DF30 chip, developed by Binary Semiconductor Co in Wuhan's Optics Valley, will undergo testing in Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, next month. The test will expose it to surface temperatures as high as 70 C while evaluating its ability to execute every control command with precision.
Only after passing this rigorous test will the chip be deemed ready for installation in Dongfeng's new vehicles.
This compact chip integrates essential vehicle control capabilities, including clock frequency, communication interfaces, and functional safety features. Each parameter undergoes extensive testing in real vehicle scenarios to ensure accuracy.
Engineers are working to translate Dongfeng's "automotive language" into specific chip parameters such as response times and interface requirements, ensuring precision in every detail.
"We meet face-to-face with Dongfeng's team at least two to three times a week," said Cai Min, deputy general manager of Binary. "We update code in the morning and test it on vehicles in the afternoon."
Optics Valley's chip labs and the automotive testing facilities in Auto Valley, also known as the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ), are just an hour's drive apart. This close proximity is helping to revolutionize smart vehicle development in Wuhan.
Wuhan boasts one of China's most complete optoelectronic information industrial chains in Optics Valley, with companies such as Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. Meanwhile, the Auto Valley hosts numerous vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, creating an ecosystem capable of completing the entire vehicle production process from raw materials to vehicle assembly.
Automotive-grade operating systems, safety software, and AI algorithms are enhancing the digital foundation of smart vehicles, with Ecarx Technology in Auto Valley providing intelligent cockpit solutions.
Lu Fang, chairman of Voyah Automobile, highlighted a significant shift: "The localization rate of Voyah's supply chain has increased to 45 percent, meaning nearly half of the value of each vehicle sold remains in Hubei province."
Voyah has attracted over 30 major enterprises to Hubei, impacting more than 430 local parts suppliers and creating stable employment for over 50,000 people.
WEDZ recently unveiled an action plan (2026-30) to achieve a vehicle-to-component ratio of 1:1 by 2030 and add 100 core component enterprises with revenues exceeding 1 billion yuan ($147.76 million).
