Baidu is already entrenched in the autonomous vehicle market through its deal with NVIDIA.
Baidu, one of China’s largest and wealthiest technology companies, has signed agreement with Continental AG and Robert Bosch Gmbh, two of the world’s largest automotive suppliers, suggesting it is preparing to enter the now global race to build an autonomous vehicle.
Continental AG, one of the world’s top suppliers of automotive technology as well as other key components such as tires, signed a strategic cooperation agreement the Chinese internet company.
Baidu also signed a similar agreement with Bosch, a major supplier to components to a host of carmakers around the world, adding to its ability to construct a complete vehicle.
Continental and Baidu said that using complementary resources and technology knowhow, they intend to develop technologies, products and business models that will provide comprehensive and reliable solutions for automated driving, connected vehicles and intelligent mobility services.
“Continental develops and provides pioneering technologies and services for the mobility of tomorrow. Baidu is one of the most important Internet companies in China. With our strategic collaboration, we will take intelligent mobility an important step further,” said Continental Chairman of the Executive Board Elmar Degenhart.
(Baidu and NVIDIA team up services for autonomous vehicles. Click Here for the story.)
As one of the China’s most sophisticated tech companies, Baidu also happens has made large investments in artificial intelligence, a field in which the Chinese are gradually easing out in front of the U.S. where cuts in science are starting to cripple advanced research at various universities, according to some observers of the tech world.
“Artificial intelligence has great potential to drive social development, and one of AI’s biggest opportunities is intelligent vehicles. Qi Lu, Group president and chief operating officer of Baidu, emphasized.
“By joining hands with Continental, we are striving to upgrade intelligence in the automobile industry and develop a new ecosystem of intelligent mobility and automated driving, thus empowering existing industries and new ones,” he said.
Under the agreement, Continental and Baidu will explore collaboration fields such as sensor systems and software for advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving, applications for Baidu’s Apollo platform including artificial intelligence, cyber security and connected cars, as well as road test, data collection and analysis for automated driving, the companies said in a statement.
Bosch will collaborate with Baidu Inc. and mapping firms AutoNavi and NavInfo Co Ltd. on automated driving projects. The deal marks a push by the Bosch in China’s autonomous vehicle market and follows a self-driving tie-up it made with Daimler AG’s Mercedes aimed at accelerating the production of “robo-taxis” last month.
Continental also signed an agreement with NIO, a electric vehicle start-up company planning an autonomous vehicle venture.
The two companies will collaborate closely in the field of fully electric vehicles and other relevant fields, including intelligent transportation systems and automated driving, striving to build a stable partnership on a long-term basis.
(Click Here for details about Conti’s autonomous driving system.)
Under the agreement, Continental and NIO will further collaborate on NIO new car platforms. In a first step, Continental will supply vehicle technology such as air suspension systems and tires to NIO’s ES8 electric SUV.
“Cars of the future will feature electric drives, which will be fully connected and automated. In 2025, we expect a market share for fully electric drive systems of around 10%. Continental is well positioned to successfully meet these future demands on automotive drive systems,” said Degenhart.
“Already today, China is one of the leading markets for electric vehicles. Our collaboration with NIO will contribute to further advance the development of electric vehicles and the Chinese electric vehicle market.”
“We are excited to be partnering with Continental on a number of projects, including automated driving, charging, and battery technology, to deliver unique services and experiences to our users,” commented William Li, founder and chairman of NIO.
NIO and Continental already have cooperated in a number of areas ever since NIO was established in 2014. Continental’s innovative products and services will be used in NIO’s first mass production car, the ES8, which will be launched on the market in 2018.
(Click Here to find out why VW says “the future is electric.”)
Under the agreement, Continental and NIO will further collaborate on NIO new car platforms. This includes vehicle technologies such as wireless charging, automated driving, digital cockpit, next-generation brake systems and air suspension systems.