ThunderSoft Unveils AquaDrive AIOS 2.1 at Auto China 2026

Showing a Clear Path for Intelligent Vehicle Progressing Towards AIDV

Beijing, April 29^th 2026 - At 2026 Auto China, ThunderSoft (stock code: SZ 300496), a leading provider of intelligent operating systems and edge-intelligence products and technologies, launched “AquaDrive AIOS 2.1” for intelligent vehicle, built upon ThunderSoft's AIOS foundation, it is one of the top Agentic AI-Enabled Cockpit-ADAS integration solutions available. Industry observers note that this release represents not only the industry's first unified experience architecture consolidating driving, autonomous driving, navigation, parking, and AI Agents - redefining vehicle's intelligent core, but a key step of pivotal paradigm shift: the transition from "SDV" to " AIDV (AI-Native Defined Vehicles)”. It provides the industry across the value chain with a practical, evolvable, and collaborative pathway toward AIDV progression and implementation.

Six key features of AquaDrive AIOS 2.1 laid the foundation for the cockpit-ADAS integration and AIDV

1. Cockpit-Driving Fusion

As an AI-native "AI Agent for cockpit-driving integration ", it lays the foundation for full-domain integration of "cockpit + ADAS + chassis + powertrain" under a centralized AI agent architecture.

2. In-depth Integration of Autonomous Driving & AI Agents

it serves as a critical technological springboard for progression from L3 → L4 → L5 autonomy; and it charts a clear path for addressing long-tail Corner Cases.

3. ISR as Desktop (Unified Interaction Interface)

It presented to the user, a unified real-time visual interface by consolidating Map data, Surround Reality (SR), and Around View Monitor (AVM) video streams, and multi-screen visual interface. This reduces driver’s cognitive load, while at the same time, enables seamless and touchless interaction and enhancing driving safety. Furthermore, its strong cross-platform compatibility accelerates technology adoption and deployment.

4. Integrated Real-World Space (5-in-1 Fusion)
   This is the only 5-in-1 solution that is available: it debuts a "Reality Space" that integrates MAP, SR (Surround Reality), AVM, APA, and AI. This makes a unified spatio-temporal coordinate system where perception translates to visualization, and understanding triggers response. Moreover, it constructs a 360° blind-spot-free visual system for all road conditions.
5. Kanzi 4 Rendering Engine Upgrade

It is the industry-leading 3D HMI engine, and it supports multi-screen fusion and provides ultimate user interaction experience in the digital cockpits.

6. Starlight-Level Night Vision
   By delivering clear, artifact-free visual enhancement in ultra-low-light conditions (<1 Lux), it provides critical visual support, and act as a key component for 24/7 context awareness capabilities across all environments for intelligent vehicles.

From what author sees here, theis AquaDrive AIOS 2.1 presented great value across the Intelligent Vehicle Value Chain

1. For OEMs: It significantly shortens project cycles and accelerates large-scale OEM production. The automotive-grade certified HMI platform supports such AI-driven personalized UI designs, that it empowers brands to cultivate their own unique brand visual styles for differentiated competitiveness.
2. For Tier 1 Suppliers: The open SDKs and cross-platform compatibility (QNX/Android/Linux) reduces technical barriers and adoption investment for global deployment.
3. For End Consumers / Vehicle Users: it brings to life, the AI-powered personalized and seamless experience and interaction.

The author’s observation is that ThunderSoft is quite a “behind-the-scenes” innovator and technology leader in the intelligent vehicle operating systems and edge-AI technological development:

1. From OS to AIOS; From Domain Control to Central Computing; From Software solution to Hardware-Software Solutions

ThunderSoft tapped into the intelligent vehicle sector as early as 2013. Leveraging its accumulation and expertise in operating systems and edge-intelligence software and hardware solutions, it established AIOS as the key technical foundation (initially as OS in 2013), providing OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers with comprehensive solutions spanning the full lifecycle of intelligent vehicles: digital cockpits/e-cockpit, autonomous driving, intelligent vision, central computing platforms, and the Kanzi AI interaction engine, etc. Driven by its sharp perception of industry trend, it launched AquaDrive AIOS - an AI-native vehicle operating system designed for central computing architecture as early as 2023, moreover, in 2025, together with Geely and NVIDIA, ThunderSoft unveiled AIBOX, a one-stop AI computing solution enabling rapid deployment of large AI models in vehicles, while requires no changes to existing E/E architectures. Last, but not least, Rightware company, the Finland 3D rendering engine company ThunderSoft acquired in 2016, empowered by ThunderSoft's multi-dimensional capabilities, Kanzi became the world-leading leading and preferred automotive HMI engine, and has since a critical component for enhancing user experience in the cockpit-driving integration progression.

2. Ecosystem Collaboration & Co-Creation: ThunderSoft established and completed a full-stack industrial closed loop with partnerships with global ecosystem leaders: "Underlying Chips – Operating System – Upper-Layer Applications – Cloud Management"

To Sum up: Beyond the Milestone, A New Journey Begins

As stated by Larry Geng, Co-Founder and Executive President of ThunderSoft:

"The intelligent vehicle sector is undergoing this critical round of AI-powered evolution—from 'transportation tool' to 'mobile intelligent agent.' And this AI-powered transformation in the physical world, spanning from operating system architecture to edge AI in the physical world, has just begun."

About ThunderSoft

Guided by its vision "Empowering every device with intelligent technology", ThunderSoft continuously dedicates in advancing the technological development and deployment of OS, AIOS, and edge-AI products and solutions in the physical world – to the intelligent vehicle, and to the broader AIoT sector spanning smart Home, Smart Hardware (wearables, action cameras, AI Glasses, smart office), Smart Industry (esp. Smart Retail, Smart Energy), and Robotics. ThunderSoft has built a global R&D and service network: operating branches in 14 countries and over 40 cities worldwide.

More information available at: https://www.thundersoft.com/

Keywords:
ThunderSoft | Auto China | AquaDrive AIOS | AIOS | SDV | AIDV | Cockpit-Driving Integration | Cockpit-ADAS integration | AI Agent | AI-Native | AI-Powered | End-to-End AI | Domain Controller | Central Computing | User Experience | Touchless Interaction | Digital Cockpit | L3/L4 | Autonomous Driving | Regulatory Compliance | Volkswagen | Porsche | Audi | Physical AI