DiDi Autonomous Driving, Guangzhou Huadu district ally on ICV businesses

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- DiDi Autonomous Driving recently signed an agreement with local authority of Huadu district, Guangzhou to carry out collaboration on intelligent-connected vehicle (ICV) projects, according to DiDi.

DiDi, Huadu distric signing agreement; photo credit: DiDi

Under the agreement, DiDi Autonomous Driving will vigorously promote the R&D, driverless testing and commercial operation of its autonomous driving technologies in Huadu district. Leveraging DiDi's technologies and operation experience in mobility service area, the ride-hailing giant will help Huadu speed up the transition and upgrading of local automotive industry in respect to intelligentization and carsharing.

Founded in 2016, DiDi’s autonomous driving unit was committed to delivering world's leading Level 4 autonomous driving technologies, aiming to make transportation safer and more efficient. In August 2019, the unit was upgraded into a standalone company, DiDi Autonomous Driving, focusing on the R&D and application of advanced autonomous driving technologies and products.

DiDi Autonomous Driving has formed a R&D group with over 500 talents, which engage in R&D and testing in many cities of China and the U.S. It has to-day obtained licenses for public road tests in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and California. 

In June 2020, DiDi launched the trial run of self-driving ride service on designated test roads in Shanghai. Users who have registered in advance on DiDi's mobile app can hail an autonomous vehicle for a free ride.

Last year, vehicles of DiDi drove for a total of 90,688 kilometers using autonomous driving mode in Shanghai, honored the runner-up by annual mileage of public road testing, according to a report issued by the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission earlier this month.