Tianjin, Zhaoqing issue first set of licenses for ICV road tests

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 24, Tianjin announced its first batch of public roads used for intelligent-connected vehicle (ICV) tests, which is located at Xiqing District and Dongli District in the city.

Beijing Baidu Netcom Science Technology Co., Ltd and a Tianjin-based data company were given the first set of licenses that allow them to conduct ICV road tests on agreed public roads. It is reported that Baidu has already got quite a few road testing licenses from governments of such cities as Beijing, Chongqing and Fujian, etc.

The approved public roads measure 29.85km long in total and cover abundant testing scenarios such as national trunk highways, industrial parks and country roads. Supported by China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC), the construction of relevant infrastructures has been completed already.

A special working group that is responsible for the ICV road test business jointly formed by Tianjin Municipal Transport Commission, Tianjin Public Security Bureau and Tianjin Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology will permit more public roads and supplement more testing scenarios in the future. Besides, researching and formulating technology standards for ICV tests is also a part of its obligations.

On the same day, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province issued its first license for autonomous vehicle tests to the autonomous vehicle startup AutoX. The startup has reportedly conducted self-driving road tests in Silicon Valley for nearly two and a half years.

AutoX disclosed that the vehicle to be put into test is a modified Lincoln MKZ. Involving 21 projects in total, the test will be executed at two speeds—40km/h and 60km/h.