Self-driving cars to take to public roads

Source: Xinhua | 2018-11-01

Ford Motor Co and Baidu Inc launched a two-year project yesterday to test self-driving vehicles on Chinese roads, amid a global race by carmakers and Internet firms to develop autonomous vehicle technology.

The project will start testing on designated roads in Beijing by the end of this year, and possibly other Chinese cities, the two companies said.

The vehicles will be capable of operating autonomously in certain conditions by the time the project finishes development and testing.

By the end of the test period, the project will reach so-called level 4 technology, or autonomous driving but not in all conditions. It is the second-highest tier after level 5 — vehicles that should be capable of navigating without any driver input.

Ford and Baidu, China’s top search engine also taking a lead role in self-driving tech, said in June they would develop connected services, artificial intelligence and digital marketing in China.

Ford, grappling with slowing China sales, is a founding member of the Apollo Committee, an advisory group for Baidu’s Apollo autonomous driving open platform.