Baidu’s intelligent driving capabilities and Geely’s car manufacturing expertise come together.

Geely’s (HKG: 0175) Linhai plant is built along the lines of Volvo’s global manufacturing system. It boasts one of the most advanced production lines in the world. The company’s Emgrand EV is an electrified version of its best-selling Emgrand 7 sedan. It has a 500km NEDC combined city and highway range. The EV goes from 30% to 80% charge in 30 minutes. Geely’s automotive strengths will join with Internet giant Baidu’s (NASDAQ: BIDU) automotive driving technology in a new joint venture between the two companies that will make ‘smart’ electric vehicles (EVs). (Reuters)

Baidu and intelligent driving

Baidu is one of the largest AI and Internet companies in the world. It is a leading search engine, knowledge and information centered Internet platform, and AI company.

Announcing the strategic partnership Baidu said in a statement: “At Baidu, we have long believed in the future of intelligent driving and have over the past decade invested heavily in AI to build a portfolio of world-class self-driving services,” said Robin Li, Co-founder and CEO of Baidu. “As a top Chinese automaker with global reach, Geely has the unique experience and resources to design, produce and market energy-efficient, reliable, and safe automobiles on a large scale.”

“We believe that by combining Baidu’s expertise in smart transportation, connected vehicles, and autonomous driving with Geely’s expertise as a leading automobile and EV manufacturer, the new partnership will pave the way for future passenger vehicles,” he added.

Baidu will bring to the table technologies such as its Apollo autonomous driving, DuerOS for Apollo, and Baidu Maps.

Baidu’s autonomous driving unit Apollo already works with automakers across the globe. These include Geely, Volkswagen AG (ETR: VOW3), Toyota Motor Corp (TYO: 7203), and Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F).

Geely

Geely said in a statement that the partnership will use its recently announced pure electric architecture – Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) – which is the world’s first open-sourced electric vehicle architecture.

SEA integrates hardware, software, and wider integrational capabilities in next-generation models, including intelligent electric vehicles.

The joint venture

According to Reuters, the joint venture will be housed in a new company that will be an independent subsidiary of Baidu.

Geely will also make a strategic investment in the new company.

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