Baidu,Bosch,Continental AG team up to promote self-driving tech
Chinese Internet company Baidu announced two
separate partnership deals on Thursday with top German auto suppliers
Robert Bosch and Continental AG to co-develop autonomous driving
technology and smart mobility services.
The two
deals underscore the wave of global partnerships being formed in the
fast-moving autonomous vehicle sector, which requires both the
competencies of traditional auto suppliers and those of technology
companies seasoned in artificial intelligence, robotics and other highly
technical software.
The
collaborations also point to the importance of partnerships between
Western carmakers and automotive suppliers and companies based in China,
the largest automotive market in the world. China issued a self-driving
"roadmap" last year, aiming to have highly or fully autonomous vehicles
for sale as early as 2021.
Also on Thursday, Daimler and its Chinese joint venture partner BAIC Motor Corporation agreed to upgrade the Mercedes-Benz factory in Beijing to make electric cars.
Baidu and Bosch will explore business models
and accelerate the commercialization of technologies, Baidu said in a
statement. The cooperation "will give the Chinese automotive industry a
voice in the development of core technologies of automated driving,"
Baidu said.
Continental AG, which announced its
partnership with Baidu on Wednesday, said both partners intend to
develop technologies, products and business models that will provide
solutions for automated driving, connected vehicles and intelligent
mobility services.
In April, Bosch said it was
working with Baidu and domestic mapping firms AutoNavi -- owned by
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd -- and NavInfo Co on mapping projects for
self-driving cars.
Baidu said on Thursday that it would continue to work with more manufacturers through cooperative models.