Behind Momenta, XHEART's Chip Business

By Wujie Aniu | October 17, 2026

On October 16, 36Kr exclusively reported that XHEART completed a strategic funding round, with Renault investing for the first time, Chery increasing its investment, and ChangXin Technology participating. This intelligent driving chip company has raised approximately 5 billion yuan in cumulative historical funding.

XHEART's X7 has already entered the MG 07 alongside Momenta. After this funding round, what is more worth asking is how much business an algorithm partner can bring to a chip company.

In its prospectus, Momenta explicitly stated that strengthening compatibility with domestic chip platforms is a way to improve supply flexibility and reduce system costs. It also disclosed that after software is installed in mass-produced vehicles, it will charge licensing fees based on the number of vehicles equipped. More models being able to afford and use this software relates to its future revenue.

The X7 thus has the opportunity to enter vehicle models along with the solution. However, Momenta also has the R7 project paired with Qualcomm chips. XHEART has gained an algorithm partner, but chip supply still needs to be won project by project.

MG 07 Chose a Complete Solution

When SAIC announced the MG 07 in April, it introduced the R7 model together with the X7 chip. The MG official Q&A updated in September stated that the LiDAR version adopts the Momenta intelligent assisted driving system, paired with the X7, supporting urban navigation assistance, memory parking, and other functions.

The MG 07 LiDAR version adopts the Momenta and X7 combination. Source / SAIC MG official Q&A, updated September 11, 2026.

The hybrid 245 LiDAR version of this car has a launch guide price of 118,900 yuan. The X7 has already entered vehicles in this price band, and what automakers are evaluating is what functions it can provide when working with the algorithm.

In Arm's official introduction in April, it stated that the X7's neural network computing unit is designed for automotive large models and can be adapted to Momenta R7. In July, XHEART also disclosed that Vector has already adapted basic software for the part of the X7 responsible for safety control tasks.

In August, Momenta and XHEART, together with QNX, announced a joint platform, providing driving algorithms, the X7, and a safety operating system, respectively. These collaborations give the X7 a solution that can be jointly promoted to automakers, reducing the work for automakers to find and organize suppliers at each stage from scratch. As for whether projects can be delivered faster and how much costs can be reduced, actual data is still needed.

Algorithms, chips, and a safety operating system together form the platform. Source / Momenta official website, August 19, 2026.

Vehicle Model Adaptation Is Itself a Source of Revenue

After these platforms and software are ready, there is still development work to be done for specific vehicle models. In its prospectus, Momenta listed the contents of technical development services, including software and hardware adaptation, vehicle integration, and mass-production preparation testing. Each vehicle's electrical and electronic architecture, sensor layout, and performance requirements differ and require corresponding adjustments.

This part of the work has separate revenue. Momenta's mass-production business usually includes technical development service fees before mass production, as well as licensing fees after mass production. The latter is charged based on the number of vehicles equipped with its technology, and a one-time, non-refundable licensing revenue is recognized when the software is installed in mass-produced vehicles.