Longer test road for driverless vehicles

THE open road to pilot unmanned vehicles will be extended this month, according to a forum in Anting held to mark the two-year anniversary of the National Intelligent Connected Vehicle Shanghai Pilot Zone.

The current 5.6-kilometer session will be increased to 12 kilometers in this month and reach 47 kilometers by the end of this year.

The pilot

stretch

was available for tests from March, with three carmakers, SAIC Motor, NEO and BMW, permitted to experiment on the road, so far without any accidents during tests.

New roads, including Moyu Road S., Boyuan Road and Anchi Road, will be part of a 12kilometer trial circle, said Chen Hailin, assistant to Shanghai International Automobile City’s general manager.

China’s first traffic signs for an unmanned road system will be tested in the area.

The pilot zone was set up in June 2015, after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

It aims to become an innovation center for intelligent connected cars with global influence by 2020 and currently consists of six core platforms for advanced generic technology and product testing as well as three public service bases for talent cultivating.

The pilot zone is gradually upgrading from a closed test area to open roads, classic urban roads and then intercity channels and in the end establish a systematic assessment and comprehensive demonstration platform.

The zone has completed over 200 test scenarios and provided more than 5,000 hours of test service since operation.