Baidu unveils Level 4 volume autonomous vehicle co-developed with FAW Hongqi

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Baidu unveiled a Level 4 production autonomous vehicle model jointly developed with Hongqi, the premium car brand of FAW Group, at Baidu World 2018 on November 1.

A small batch of autonomous vehicles developed by two parties will be first put into pilot operation next year in such cities as Changchun and Beijing and a larger scale of deployment will start from 2020, according to Robin Li, chairman and CEO of the leading Chinese language Internet search provider.

The world's first mass-produced L4 autonomous mini bus “Apolong” developed by Baidu Apollo in collaboration with King Long rolled off the production line on July 4 and has been put into toe-in-the-water exercise in October of the year.

Besides, the Internet company has approved by several cities in China to test autonomous vehicles on public roads, including Beijing, Fuzhou and Chongqing, etc.

Baidu has also reached an agreement with Geely-owned Volvo Cars to co-develop self-driving electric vehicles, according relevant reports delivered on November 1. In addition, Ford Motor (China) Ltd. claimed on October 31 that it will join hands with Baidu to test autonomous vehicles in China for two years.

At the Baidu World 2018, the Internet giant released an AI-based urban traffic solution, which will be first implemented in two China’s megacities—Beijing and Shanghai. The solution is designed to enhance urban transportation efficiency and help the developer further explore more futuristic autonomous driving technologies.