QCraft Opens European Headquarters in Germany to Drive Autonomous Expansion

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On September 8, 2025, Chinese autonomous driving firm QCraft unveiled a pivotal development: the establishment of its European headquarters in Germany, announced at the prestigious IAA Mobility 2025 event Reuters. This strategic springboard marks the company’s formal entry into the EU and global markets, signaling its intent to expand beyond Asia and deliver full-stack autonomous driving solutions across Europe, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea by 2026 Reuters.

A Bold Expansion Strategy

QCraft’s move into Germany is far from symbolic. Choosing Europe—specifically Germany—is a calculated step to embed itself in one of the world’s leading automotive and technological ecosystems. Germany remains at the helm of automotive innovation, backed by supportive legislation, a mature industry, and advanced infrastructure. By launching a European HQ here, QCraft both aligns with regulatory frameworks and positions itself in proximity to automakers and R&D partners.

Leveraging Collaborative Synergies

In tandem with the HQ announcement, QCraft revealed a partnership with U.S. chip giant Qualcomm, complementing its existing chip collaborations with NVIDIA and Horizon Robotics ReutersCnEVPostGasgoo. Qualcomm’s recent automated driving system launch with BMW adds heft to QCraft's inroads into Europe. Through Qualcomm, QCraft gains access to sophisticated hardware capabilities, and the BMW alliance further solidifies its foothold in the European automotive fabric.

Such alliances with tier-one chipmakers enhance QCraft’s credibility and empower it with best-in-class tech for delivering robust autonomous systems.

Why Germany?

Regulatory Favorability
Germany has been pioneering regulations that enable Level 4 autonomy, including adaptation of its Road Traffic Act and approval of autonomous operations in designated areas since 2021 Wikipedia. This regulatory clarity provides fertile ground for companies like QCraft to test and deploy in a legal environment that balances innovation with safety.

Automotive Capital of Europe
Home to Daimler, BMW, Volkswagen, and a wealth of suppliers and research institutions, Germany offers unmatched access to stakeholders critical to transportation innovation. QCraft’s presence here opens doors to collaboration, pilot programs, and commercial integration.

Proximity to Markets and Talent
Positioning in Germany facilitates access to customers, talent pools, and partners across Europe. The EU’s single market enhances scalability, while proximity to academic and engineering communities accelerates innovation adoption.


QCraft’s Autonomous Driving Journey

Before this expansion, QCraft had already made substantial progress:

  • Mass Production Success: By late 2024, QCraft had delivered over 500,000 units of its “Chengfeng” smart driving solutions in China, spanning configurations like Air, Pro, and Max MetalGasgoo.

  • Hardware-Software Fusion: QCraft’s strengths lie in modular hardware configurations combined with advanced perception, planning, and spatiotemporal integration technologies qcraft.aiGasgoo. These include variants for diverse price points and vehicle types, maximizing cost-efficiency without sacrificing performance.

  • Strategic Chip Partnerships: Early alliances with NVIDIA (Drive Orin) empowered robust full-stack L4 solutions PandailyCnEVPost. Later collaboration with Horizon Robotics on the Journey 5 chip further diversified its options GasgooCnEVPost.

  • Funding Traction: QCraft’s momentum was fueled by raising upwards of 1 billion yuan (~$138M USD) in total, including a recent C round of several hundred million yuan CnEVPost.

These achievements underscore QCraft’s readiness to scale globally—particularly in regions demanding high reliability and regulatory compliance like Europe.

Strategic Timing: Europe’s Autonomous Push

Europe is actively seeking to bridge the autonomous mobility gap relative to the U.S. and China. The European Commission’s strategy includes promoting industry alliances, shared tech ecosystems, and pilot programs across borders Reddit+1. Germany, specifically, has authorized Level 4 testing across the country through KBA approval for ZF Mobility Reddit. Together, QCraft’s European HQ supports the realization of this broader vision—and cements its place among active innovators in the space.

What Lies Ahead

With the European HQ in place, QCraft is poised to:

  1. Initiate European Deliveries (by 2026)
    Full-stack autonomous deployments across Europe are expected by 2026 Reuters—aligning with QCraft’s timeline for the U.S., Japan, and South Korea.

  2. Engage Locally
    Establish R&D, testing, and operational hubs, enabling collaboration with German OEMs and tapping into regional talent.

  3. Launch Pilots and Demonstrations
    Potential pilot programs in Germany or broader Europe—leveraging Germany’s progressive regulatory environment and infrastructure readiness.

  4. Scale Partnerships Beyond OEMs and Chips
    Evolve alliances into production-scale offerings, urban mobility projects (e.g., robotaxis, shuttle services), and localized solutions.

Watch Our Short:




Challenges & Considerations

Despite the promise, QCraft must navigate:

  • Stringent Regulatory Hurdles: European laws, though harmonizing, still require strict compliance across member states.

  • Competitive Foothold: Key players like Mercedes (with its Level 3 Drive Pilot), BMW, VW, and autonomous startups are already active in Europe Reddit+1.

  • Integration Complexity: Tailoring systems to European cars, infrastructure, and customer preferences requires agility and adaptation.

However, QCraft’s history of modular, scalable hardware, flexible chip partnerships, and rapid iteration may smooth this transition.

In Summary

QCraft’s opening of its European headquarters in Germany on September 8, 2025, marks an inflection point—heralding its official entrance into global autonomous mobility markets Reuters. Bolstered by its robust technological portfolio, strategic chip alliances, strong funding, and modular solutions, QCraft appears primed to influence—and participate in—the evolution of autonomous driving in Europe.

With an eye on delivering full-stack systems by 2026, the company is now poised on Germany’s—and the continent’s—landscape of innovation, ready to navigate both its opportunities and complexities.

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