General Motors greenlighted for autonomous driving road test in Shanghai, China

Beijing (Gasgoo)- General Motors China (GM China) revealed today that it has recently obtained the intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) road testing qualification permit in Shanghai, which allows the company to conduct Level 4 autonomous road testing within the designated demonstration areas. 

Photo credit: GM China

This marks GM China’s first road testing of high-level autonomous vehicles on public roads within China's ICV testing demonstration zone, demonstrating the company's commitment to tailoring autonomous driving solutions for the Chinese market.

This road test will be conducted with mass-produced vehicles, which represents a significant milestone in the partnership between GM China and Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta. It showcases the potential for scaling this technology onto privately-owned vehicles. Leveraging Momenta's AI technology, the road tests will accelerate algorithm iteration, laying the groundwork for GM China's future higher-level autonomous driving testing and operations.

The initial phase of this road testing is planned for one year. Chris Kinser, Executive Director of GM China Engineering Center, stated, "Safety being our top priority, we eagerly anticipate conducting real-world autonomous driving tests in Shanghai. We aspire to realize the vision of 'zero accidents, zero emissions, and zero congestion' in China, the world's largest automotive market."

The experience gained from these road tests will also contribute to advancing GM's high-level driver assistance technology in China. The application scenarios will extend from controlled environments like highways to more challenging urban roads. According to Song Leping, Chief Technology Officer of GM China, "Road testing will help us better understand China's road scenarios, regulatory requirements, and driving habits, accelerating the development and launch of tailored solutions."