AI Set to Propel China’s Self-Driving Technology Forward
Artificial intelligence is expected to spearhead China’s autonomous vehicle industry, with significant emphasis on regulatory improvements, infrastructure development, and expanded testing. Experts anticipate that 2025 will be a turning point for self-driving technology, with plans for the commercialization of Level 3 and Level 4 vehicles. Leaders in the automotive sector are advocating for enhanced legal frameworks to support these advancements.
The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is anticipated to lead an industrial revolution, significantly impacting China’s self-driving technology sector. Experts and lawmakers highlight AI’s crucial role in advancing autonomous and intelligent connected vehicles. As China pursues mass production and commercialization of these vehicles, there is an urgent need to strengthen regulations, improve transportation infrastructure, and broaden the testing of autonomous vehicles across diverse scenarios.
In line with the Government Work Report, the country is committed to implementing the AI Plus initiative. This initiative aims to encourage the widespread application of advanced AI models and nurture the development of next-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing, especially focusing on connected new energy vehicles. He Xiaopeng, CEO of Xpeng Motors, stated that the upcoming AI era will facilitate the introduction of self-driving and fully driverless vehicles, emphasizing his company’s continued investment in AI and the introduction of specialized AI-powered chips to optimize driving intelligence.
He Xiaopeng forecasts that 2025 will represent a pivotal moment for intelligent driving, attributing anticipated advancements to improvements in algorithms, sensors, and computing platforms. He indicated that the focus should be on facilitating the mass production of Level 3 autonomous driving technology, which allows for conditional automation with human oversight. Notably, Xpeng intends to launch its Level 3 capabilities later this year, and by 2026, aims to develop Level 4 technology, which implies higher automation with reduced human intervention.
Feng Xingya, chairman of GAC Group, stated that AI technology is becoming a fundamental force driving the evolution of intelligent connected vehicles. He elaborated that AI is transforming the automotive experience, encompassing intelligent driving and human-machine interaction. GAC plans to enhance the development of advanced driving and AI models while fostering AI applications across various stages of automobile research, development, manufacturing, and marketing.
Feng emphasizes that autonomous driving is central to intelligent connected vehicles and essential for intelligent transportation systems. GAC has been among the early adopters to test Level 3 vehicles on public roads and aims to commence mass production of such vehicles in the current year. He advocated for revisions of the Road Traffic Safety Law to clarify liability issues related to autonomous cars and for the establishment of comprehensive legal frameworks governing intelligent driving.
In recent years, China has enacted measures to encourage the growth of autonomous vehicle technology. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology supports commercial applications for Level 3 and above autonomous systems, with over 50 cities implementing pilot demonstration policies to broaden the application scenarios for self-driving technology. Wang Xianjin, a national political adviser and chief engineer at the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, noted the rapid testing of self-driving vehicles in China, paving the way for commercialization in a competitive global market. He also called for expedited policy reforms to support these advancements.
Lastly, Lei Jun, CEO and founder of Xiaomi, suggested the creation of a national testing and verification framework for autonomous vehicles. He underscored the importance of expediting commercial production to facilitate the integration of self-driving vehicles on highways and urban roads by 2026.
In summary, the integration of artificial intelligence is pivotal in accelerating China’s advancements in autonomous driving technology. As industry leaders consolidate efforts towards mass production and regulatory improvements, the forthcoming years may prove crucial for the implementation and commercialization of self-driving vehicles. Focused initiatives and collaborative efforts among stakeholders will be integral in shaping a robust and innovative autonomous driving landscape in China.
Original Source: asianews.network
Post Comment