Volvo Cars of Sweden and Chinese internet search provider, Baidu, will jointly develop autonomous cars to be built in China.
Volvo Cars has reached an agreement with Baidu, the leading Chinese internet search provider, to jointly develop electric and fully autonomous drive-compatible cars with the aim of mass producing them for China, the largest car market in the world.
Volvo Cars is the first foreign carmaker to collaborate this closely with Baidu to jointly develop customized autonomous driving cars.
The partnership will allow both companies to develop and sell these vehicles to potential Chinese customers, underlining the Swedish company’s aspirations to be the supplier of choice for mobility companies globally.
Volvo Cars and Baidu will pool resources to take the next step and prepare for mass manufacturing of fully electric and autonomous cars, according to the agreement.
The collaboration with Baidu is Volvo Cars first of its kind in China and it was deliberately chosen as a partner by Baidu because of its long-standing safety credentials.
Based on the collaboration agreement, Baidu will contribute with its Apollo autonomous driving platform. Volvo will provide access to its expertise and advanced technologies of the car industry.
Industry forecasts show that China is likely to become the single largest market for autonomous cars in the world in coming decades.
In the coming years, Volvo Cars will seek to capitalize on and lead the disruption currently underway in the industry. This ambition is reflected in a new set of longer term ambitions that Volvo Cars announced earlier this year, which focus on establishing a leading position in electrification, autonomous drive and new models of car ownership and access.
Volvo Cars and Baidu join forces to develop and manufacture autonomous driving cars
Keyword: Volvo and Baidu Partner on Autonomous Cars