Shenzhen greenlights Tencent autonomous vehicle road test

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 14, the Chinese Internet giant Tencent obtained an ICV (intelligent-connected vehicle) license plate from Shenzhen municipal government.

Reportedly, the municipal government only issued one license plate for this time. Tencent Autonomous Vehicle Laboratory was allowed to test its autonomous vehicle on public road after the government designates the testing sectors.

The tested autonomous vehicle belonging to Tencent Autonomous Vehicle Lab is purportedly re-modified from Haval H7. The vehicle carries a 64-beam Velodyne Lidar on the top and is equipped with millimeter-wave radar sensors, cameras, and 6 4-beam Lidars around its body.

In 2018, Tencent will focus on proceeding with the operation and application of L3 autonomous vehicles and exploring the L4 and L5 autonomous driving technologies, according to Su Kuifeng, director of Tencent Autonomous Vehicle Lab.

Founded in the second half of 2016, Tencent Autonomous Vehicle Lab has built a reliable autonomous driving system bolstered by AI algorithm, HD (high-definition) map, data platform and simulation system, Su Kuifeng added. 

On April 2, Tencent's autonomous vehicle made its first public presence on the Fourth Ring Road in Beijing.

The Internet giant also make layout in auto area by investing in automakers. In March 2017, Tencent had bought 5% share in Tesla and became the automakers' fifth largest shareholder. What's more, Tencent and Baidu had led a $600 million funding round in the Shanghai-based electric car maker NIO.