Autonomous driving tests and advanced aren’t just being conducted in the US. China gave tech company Baidu, Inc., essentially the Google of China, the approval to start autonomous driving tests in the suburbs of Beijing, according to Reuters. When it comes to self-driving technology, China wants to compete in the area, so now the country is allowing Baidu to start conducting self-driving tests.
What’s surprising here is that China gave approval to Baidu to start doing autonomous driving tests on the heels of the first fatal accident involving a self-driving car in the US. Uber’s self-driving vehicle struck a pedestrian in Tempe, AZ, and later died at the hospital. The investigation is still ongoing, and at this time it’s not entirely clear who is at fault.
Apollo 2.0 is Baidu’s self-driving platform, and boasts the ability to navigate a car through basic urban environments not matter the time of day. The company wants to conduct more tests and refine the technology further throughout 2018. The company’s permit covers testing on 33 suburban Beijing roads, so about 65 miles. Using its Apollo 2.0 platform, the company hopes to launch self-driving buses in China.
