New smart auto test zone to open
A NEW test zone for intelligent and connected vehicles was announced for the Shanghai free trade zone on the southern outskirts over the weekend.
In Fengxian District, testing will focus on special roads and scenarios, including industrial parks, large underground garages and rural roads.
Based in Lingang Nanqiao Sci-Tech City, the city’s third test space for intelligent and connect vehicles follows areas in Jiading District and the Pudong New Area.
The new zone, to start operations next year, is part of an agreement signed by the Fengxian government, Lingang Group and Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Saturday to develop an automotive “Future Space,” reflecting the city’s ambition to become a global automobile industry center.
The new park will help innovation in the auto industry through cooperation between government, academia and business, said Wu Jincheng, chief of the Shanghai’s economy and information commission.
The district government will take charge of the infrastructure and provide assistance on land, funds and public services.
Lingang Group will attract projects, incubators and research institutes to create an international community of talent.
The university will provide new technology and professionals. Laboratories and work stations will focus on safety test and certification and hydrogen fuel cells.
Wu said the park could become a center for intelligent and connect vehicles in south Shanghai.
The first seven companies signed contracts to move into the park on Saturday, including automated car developer Allride and hydrogen fuel cell developer H-rise.
Three Allride autonomous cars started testing at Nanqiao Sci-Tech City at the weekend. Wang Jin, CEO of the company, said the company’s cars will be tested across Fengxian and Lingang next year.
Shanghai aims to become an innovation center for intelligent and connected vehicles by 2020 and take a lead in the sector by 2025.
Automobile support sectors in Fengxian have an annual output of about 16 billion yuan (US$2.3 billion), accounting for 10 percent of the district’s industrial production.
The district started planning on the Future Space park last year after US electric carmaker Tesla announced it would build its first overseas plant in Lingang.