BYD, BrainChip, Volkswagen: Insider tip on the megatrend of autonomous driving

BYD: Here is what happens now

The fact that commuting to work every day is anything but ideal is particularly evident on Chinese streets. Rents in the city are high; people often commute several hours to their workplace and are primarily stuck in traffic jams. Chinese automaker BYD is one of the beneficiaries of the Chinese officials' realization that things cannot go on like this. Years ago, China already limited the number of registrations for classic internal combustion vehicles in many urban centers. However, this limit did not apply to electric cars. In this way, the country wanted to combat pollution and smog in large cities. Although the air in Chinese metropolises is still bad today, it is hard to imagine the situation without electric cars.

Governments and administrations could soon develop new ideas around autonomous driving: If individual automobile traffic were regulated and autonomous driving solutions were favored instead, the parking problem in many inner cities would be solved abruptly. The autonomous shuttles could bring commuters into the city and immediately pick up additional passengers, transport goods, or drive to the countryside for loading or inspections. Within cities, parking lots could be landscaped, and parking garages could be used for more profitable construction - space in cities is scarce, after all. Chinese carmaker BYD has recently come under pressure due to weak figures, but the Company is perfectly prepared to benefit from the next mobility revolution. BYD manufactures electric cars and has its own chip production. In addition, BYD operates in a market that is predestined to promote innovations around autonomous driving politically and administratively due to the general conditions, such as bad air and daily traffic jams. BYD remains an extremely exciting share, though it is already the talk of the town.

BrainChip: Revolutionary chip technology for autonomous driving

More of an insider tip is the Australian company BrainChip. The Company is developing a revolutionary chip based on the human brain in terms of its structure and functionality. It has great significance for practical applications. In addition to extremely low energy consumption, Akida has artificial intelligence built-in, so to speak: even when the chip is installed, it is capable of learning. This learning manifests itself in gradually decreasing latencies and also lowering power consumption. Like the human brain, the chip from BrainChip also functions comparatively autonomously - Akida does not need an Internet connection. Analysts at Pitt Street Research see Akida as a revolutionary achievement because the chip solves three problems related to AI applications: it requires only low bandwidths and low power, and it scores with low latency.

Areas of application for Akida are expected to be autonomous driving and applications around the Internet of Things. The first batch of the chip rolled off the production line in Taiwan in August. The manufacturing partner is TSMC. Now it is a matter of BrainChip working with its partners to make customers aware of the chip. Analysts at Pitt Street Research expect that initial collaborations in this area could be a catalyst that significantly boosts the stock. The analysts see the fair value for BrainChip shares at AUD 1.50 - the stock is currently trading at around one-third.

Volkswagen: Preparations for the next mobility revolution

One of the companies that would undoubtedly find a presentation of the Akida chip interesting is Volkswagen. The carmaker already made the turn toward electromobility some time ago. A few months ago, the Company from Lower Saxony also swallowed the car rental company Europcar. Behind this is a strategy that many automakers have been quietly pursuing for years: The development toward becoming a mobility provider. Trends such as autonomous driving could make the Company's own vehicle obsolete. To keep in touch with the end customer nonetheless, today's car rental companies could become tomorrow's mobility providers. A mileage package in a monthly subscription. A permanent subscription for the daily commute or an all-round carefree flat rate including a family van, SUV or city car as required - if autonomous driving changes the way we get around, such visions could become a reality.

At present, however, Volkswagen, like many automakers, is suffering from a chip shortage. The good prospects for e-cars seem to be priced in. BYD is in a better position; the Company shines with its chips and promising opportunities in China. BrainChip has what it takes to make the achievements of the future possible - with all the positive consequences. The stock is still a speculative venture, but the product is considered extremely promising.