Shanghai (ZXZC)- Huawei, a China-based world's leading provider of ICT devices, will purchase HD (high-definition) map data and services from the Chinese navigation map developer NavInfo, the latter announced on November 19.

The Beijing-based location-based service provider said it has received an application from Huawei who intended to procure its autonomous car-used mapping data of certain regions. Based on the order, NavInfo will serve Huawei with testing and verification of HD maps, and both parties will make joint efforts to carry out verification for Huawei's autonomous driving technologies.

Focusing on Huawei's self-driving solutions, the collaboration will allow NavInfo to collect data, manufacture HD map and offer relevant services based on the map attributes required and agreed by the Shenzhen-based smart device supplier.

HD map is very critical for autonomous car development in light of positioning, navigation, vehicle control and safety. About five years ago, NavInfo started developing HD maps and was capable of producing the maps available to level 4 autonomous driving features in 2017. Reportedly, NavInfo has so far completed data-collection highway trip of 300,000 km and produced HD maps accordingly.

In August, 2019, Huawei was granted a Class-A license that permits it to make electronic navigation map, the 20th one in China receiving such kind of certificate—of course, NavInfo is one of them. Theoretically, the smart phone maker can legally create its own HD map now to boost the autonomous driving technology development, while is still not powerful enough to take on field-leading firms like NavInfo. Perhaps, the direct procurement from the stronger peers is an efficient way to boost its self-driving growth (photo source: NavInfo).