CHJ aims to commercially operate first batch of L4 autonomous cars in 2025

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The first batch of production vehicles of Chinese EV startup CHJ Automotive (CHJ) is slated to be put into commercial operation in 2025, according to Lang Xianpeng, director of the startup's autonomous driving arm, who disclosed CHJ's strategies in autonomous driving and car-sharing realms for the first time a few days ago. Besides, it can be learnt that the startup aims to build Robo-taxi with L4 autonomous driving function defined by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers).

According to Lang's statement, CHJ is ambitious to achieve applications of autonomous driving technologies based on four platforms, namely, in-vehicle system, AI (artificial intelligence), data simulation and fleet management.

The startup's SUV model to go on sale first will carry the L2.5 autonomous driving system, with functions similar to that of Tesla's Autopilot. The model is designed to collect data on driving behaviors for the development of the Robo-taxi. The R&D group will complete the data platform before the model hits the market to ensure an accurate data transmission. What's more, the to-be-delivered model will boast the OTA (over-the-air) function.

In addition, CHJ will make its first batch of autonomous vehicles based on the first SUV model. The company plans to utilize the trial autonomous vehicles to ripen such technologies as data service, store, distribution as well as manufacturing and gain part of generic algorithm. Those general capabilities will be implanted into the Robo-taxi's tailored version after the model for ride-hailing service is launched in the first half of 2019.

Reportedly, the startup will complete the overall design of the Robo-taxi in 2020 after the sample model comes out in 2019, and then starts to mass produce the model with higher autonomous driving functions within 2023 to 2025.