Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport launches valet parking driving pilot operation

Beijing (Gasgoo)-On June 14, GAC Trumpchi and Huawei officially launched the world's first valet parking driving (VPD) pilot project at the departure level of an airport—Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, according to a post of the WeChat account of the airport. This marks the first time globally that VPD technology has been deployed and put into operation directly at an airport's departure level.

Photo credit: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

To accommodate the system, Baiyun International Airport upgraded its departure roadways and parking infrastructure. With guidance from municipal authorities and joint efforts from all parties, the VPD pilot project was successfully implemented. The program also marks the inaugural achievement of the "GAC-Huawei Innovation Joint Project," with the Trumpchi M8 Qiankun, equipped with Huawei's Qiankun driver assistance system, serving as the first pilot vehicle.

A seamless valet parking experience: step out and walk away

For travelers driving to the airport, the hassle of finding parking and later locating the car has long been a source of stress—especially for those on tight schedules. The Trumpchi M8 Qiankun's VPD feature is designed to alleviate this pain point by streamlining the parking experience and enhancing efficiency for both parking and car retrieval, offering a smarter, more convenient travel solution.

Backed by deep insights into airport travel behavior and powered by Huawei's advanced driver assistance technologies, the M8 Qiankun transforms the traditionally stressful airport parking process into a smooth style experience, according to Baiyun International Airport.

Upon arriving at the dedicated VPD drop-off point at the departure level, the driver can simply unload their luggage and head straight into the terminal to check in—no need to hunt for a parking space. With just a few taps on a smartphone app, the vehicle will autonomously drive to the underground parking facility, adeptly handling complex scenarios like gate entries, vehicle interactions, and pedestrian yielding. It cruises precisely to an available space, realizing the promise of "step out and walk away" .

For the return trip, the driver can remotely summon the car via the app. The vehicle navigates itself out of the parking spot, plans the optimal route, and arrives at the designated pickup zone next to the elevator lobby—dramatically reducing the time and hassle of locating the vehicle. Like a personal chauffeur, it delivers a premium and efficient pick-up experience.

The VPD function also enhances family travel experience. Whether dropping off loved ones or embarking on a group vacation, families can disembark directly at the VPD drop-off zone and accompany each other into the terminal. This saves time and creates space for more meaningful farewells or shared travel moments, making the experience both smoother and more heartfelt.

Safer, smarter, and more human-like driving assistance

As one of South China's key transportation hubs, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport handled over 76 million passenger trips in 2024, with correspondingly heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic. This places high demands on vehicles' precision control and intelligent obstacle avoidance systems. So how does Huawei's Qiankun VPD technology navigate such a complex environment with ease—from curbside drop-off to final parking?

The answer lies in the robust hardware and AI algorithms powering Huawei's Qiankun system. The Trumpchi M8 Qiankun is equipped with such hardware as 192-line LiDAR, 8-megapixel front-facing binocular camera, and 4D millimeter-wave radar. These are integrated with Huawei's end-to-end neural network algorithms to form a "blind-spot-free" perception framework. This advanced system gives the car a smarter "brain," enabling it to "see" farther and more accurately, react faster, and make driving decisions that mimic human intuition. The result is smooth and seamless autonomous operation from drop-off to parking space—even in highly dynamic environments.

Safety is also a foundational principle for the process. The M8 Qiankun incorporates Huawei's omnidirectional collision-avoidance system, which has already prevented over 2 million potential accidents. This full-spectrum protection provides safety coverage across all speeds, directions, targets, conditions, and scenarios.

By bringing VPD technology to the departure level of a major international airport, GAC Trumpchi and Huawei have not only expanded the real-world application of this technology, but also redefined what seamless airport travel can look like. The M8 Qiankun owners will be among the first to benefit from this pioneering solution. As ADAS technologies continue to evolve, they promise to deliver unprecedented levels of convenience and safety—ushering in a new era of smart mobility.