Baidu’s IoV division adjusts organizational structure

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The organizational structure of Baidu's Internet of Vehicles (IoV) division was adjusted on Jan. 19 with five business branches, three platform branches and three business supporting centers launched at the same time, according to a local media outlet.

The business branches include Xiaodu smart voice assistant (auto version), Baidu Maps (auto version), auto cloud & safety, solutions of mobile phone projection and connectivity as well as CDC (cockpit data center).

Photo credit: Baidu

The newly-unveiled branches will all directly report to Su Tan, general manager of Baidu's IoV division.

The IoV division is under the management of Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group (IDG). According to the planning the IDG set for 2021, the IoV division will push ahead with the R&D of Level 2+ assistant driving technologies and engage in the development of intelligent cockpit solution.

Baidu announced its offensive into car-building area on Jan. 11. The tech giant said it planned to establish a company to produce intelligent electric vehicles and had entered into a strategic partnership with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Baidu will provide the new venture with its capabilities of smart transportation, connected vehicles and autonomous driving, and Geely will contribute its expertise in automobile design and manufacture.

Baidu also made headway recently in the cooperation with Chinese EV startups. On Jan. 19, WM Motor saw its three production model, the W6, roll off the assembly line at its Huanggang manufacturing base in Hubei. The new SUV is capable of performing some self-driving functions in parking scenarios by virtue of Baidu Apollo' cloud computing power of over 1 million TOPS, said Freeman Shen, founder, chairman and CEO of WM Motor.