City targets smart vehicles

SHANGHAI is upgrading its autonomous vehicle testing facilities, hoping to attract more solution and service providers in addition to manufacturers to help the sector prosper.

Cai Wenshan, senior project manager for driverless vehicles at SAIC Maxus Automotive Co, said a bus is being tested in the Lingang Special Area, part of the Shanghai free trade zone, and he’s confident of adding the vehicle to the company’s fleet this year.

“Here we can test the vehicle and simulate how it detects bus stops, pedestrians and other obstacles on the road,” he said.

The Shanghai Lingang Autonomous and Informationalized Vehicle Integrative Testing and Demonstration Zone opened in August last year and offers more than 130 test scenarios.

About 20 automakers and driverless solution providers have received certificates to operate in pilot zones in the city since it was put into use last year.

The Shanghai

Lingang

Intelligent Connected Vehicle Innovation Center Co Ltd, operator of the testing and demonstration zone, is hosting a forum on autonomous driving during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference as it seeks to speed up deployment of driverless vehicles.

Liu Jianquan, deputy general manager of the Shanghai Lingang Intelligent Connected Vehicle Innovation Center Co Ltd, said the zone was close to ports, transport facilities and industrial sites and thus offer more scenarios for commercial and passenger vehicles.