SAIC is partnering with Pony.ai to develop a new fleet of driverless level 4 autonomous robotaxis, according to Electrek. The SAIC AI Lab is the autonomous-focused division of SAIC that will lead the collaboration with Pony.ai.
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SHANGHAI, CHINA - APRIL 12: (CHINA OUT) A Chinese man walks past the office building of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC) on April 12, 2005 in Shanghai, China.
Pony.ai already has level 4 autonomous robotaxis that has operations on the streets of China. Together, the companies will combine vehicle manufacturing and AI to provide a fleet of electric robotaxis designed from the ground up.
The Details
In a press release, the companies shared details about their new autonomous robotaxi venture. The fleet of robotaxis will be built from the ground up instead with the goal of reaching mass production to speed up the commercial adoption of robotaxis services and autonomous driving in China.
The current vehicle will feature 17 integrated automotive-grade sensors for a 36-degree visual range covering 200 meters. This will eliminate blind spots around the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle will be powered by the latest generation of autonomous technology of Pony.ai.
The robotaxi will also have a foldable steering wheel for a human-machine interaction experience.
SAIC aims to start mass production of robotaxis in China by 2025. However, with Pony.ai., it's likely that SAIC will reach its goal much faster.
Robotaxis
New, factory-built robotaxis will be a game changer for the nascent self-driving industry. In the past, companies like Tesla and Uber have retrofitted existing vehicles with autonomous technology.
This route allowed the companies to begin testing the vehicles in the wild. However, it also delayed the rollout of a commercial product. Fortunately, this new partnership will bring autonomous technology to China faster than expected.
There are many advantages to a new fleet of factory-built driverless vehicles. After all, these cars are built from the ground up to be autonomous.
However, for the companies and the consumers, there are some disadvantages to the technology. One is that this will undoubtedly come with a large price tag, but it will be a lot safer as safety has been an issue with retrofitted vehicles. With a factory-built fleet, these safety issues may be eliminated.
It was a smart move for SAIC to sign on with Pony.ai. Pony.ai is one of China's largest AI companies. They have years of experience in building, designing, and testing autonomous vehicles. Moreover, they also have a fleet of robotaxis on the road. These vehicles are already pre-programmed with SAIC's safety standards.
Autonomous technology has the potential to disrupt a number of industries. Not only will autonomous cars and trucks reduce costs, they will also eliminate the need for human drivers. This will save money for consumers, but it will also save lives.
Accidents are one of the leading causes of death in developed nations. However, autonomous vehicles will no longer be in control. The companies and investors behind the future of autonomous vehicles are hoping that this technology will save lives.
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Written by April Fowell
