A BAIC Motor Arcfox-7 concept electric vehicle is on display at the 2016 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. (Photo : Getty Images)
The collaboration on telematics and autonomous driving of Baidu Inc. and Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Ltd. is almost ready for its coming-out moment as the government pushes for self-driving vehicles within China.
According to Xu Heyu, Chairman of BAIC, a BAIC-build model that is equipped with technology from Baidu will debut at the Shanghai Auto Show in April this year.
Together with Baidu, BAIC is planning to conduct road testing an autonomous car in limited environments by the end of 2017.
China has set a goal that 10 to 20 percent of their vehicles will be highly autonomous by 2025, and 10 percent should be fully self-driving in 2030.
China Central Television began airing a five-part series this month that will highlight China's efforts in autonomous vehicles and related technology.
Bill Russo, the managing director of Gao Feng Advisory Co, said: “It’s a smart move for both to team up. BAIC can bring manufacturing and Baidu can bring technology capability to solve mobility problems.”
"The cooperation with BAIC is Baidu’s most comprehensive, though the internet giant also is working with other automakers on joint development of self-driving cars," said Baidu President Zhang Yaqin.
He also said that Baidu is close on setting up a new research center near Seattle Washington, which will focus on cloud computing, security and artificial intelligence.
Last April, Baidu formed a self-driving car team that would employ more than 100 researchers and engineers in Silicon Valley by the end of 2016. They have been testing their autonomous vehicles in eastern Chinese cities. They also have earned a permit from California to test their autonomous vehicles in the state as well.
BAIC also has made progress of its own, wherein their joint-venture partners let consumers ride self-driving cars on a test track last April. This includes Daimler AG and Hyundai Motor Co.
As China is seeking to shed its image as a cheap manufacturer of products, the Chinese government is pushing its manufacturing industries and its technology to create more sophisticated products and services in line with the digitization trend.
