Chinese, Thai companies collaborate to launch autonomous driving project for mining business

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On October 15, a consortium of Chinese and Thai companies inked a cooperation agreement to bring a groundbreaking 5G+ autonomous driving project to Thailand's mining industry. 

Signing ceremony; photo credit: WAYTOUS

The collaboration involves some prominent players, including Thailand's largest conglomerate SCG, the country's leading telecom operator AIS, China’s Huawei, intelligent mining tech provider WAYTOUS incubated by Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Chinese bus manufacturer Yutong Bus. This initiative marks a pivotal step for Chinese mining autonomous driving enterprises' expansion beyond China and the launch of the first autonomous driving project in a foreign mining region.

WAYTOUS, as a representative of Chinese mining autonomous driving companies, is poised to introduce its first batch of electric autonomous off-road vehicles into a cement mine in Thailand's Saraburi Province. This transformation will be completed by around January 2024, effectively contributing to the construction of an environmentally friendly, intelligent, efficient, and safe new-age mining operation.

By participating in this venture, these companies aim to use it as a stepping stone for energy strategic layout along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). They are eager to explore broader and deeper collaborations with Thailand and other countries along the BRI, with plans to expand into Southeast Asia, Africa, South America, and other BRI-related regions. This endeavor not only signifies the inaugural overseas project in the Chinese mining autonomous driving sector but also serves as a blueprint for promoting green development across the Chinese-Thai and ASEAN regions, enhancing cooperation in energy resources, and upgrading industrial structures for BRI countries.

After a series of extensive discussions and meticulous planning, the consortium resolved various issues related to solution integration, trade logistics, project feasibility, alignment of technical standards, and preparation of implementation details. With the signing of the cooperation agreement on October 15, the first 5G+ autonomous driving and green mining project in Thailand is now set to become a reality.

The 5G network is currently under construction within the mining region, and the transformation of autonomous electric mining vehicles is well underway. The completion of this project not only symbolizes a breakthrough for Chinese mining autonomous driving companies venturing abroad but also represents a pioneering model for sustainable economic and social development in the Sino-Thai and ASEAN regions. It holds significant potential for advancing cooperation and upgrading the energy and industry sectors of BRI countries.