Taxi firm DiDi to start autonomous driving research and development in Guangzhou

Image credit: DiDi

In a strategic partnership between DiDi Autonomous Driving and the Huadu District of Guangzhou, DiDi disclosed its plan to invest in research and development (R&D) in self-driving technology and commercial applications in Guangzhou. Guangzhou is China's third largest city, with a population of over 15 million.

DiDi first began to develop and test autonomous driving vehicles in 2016. In August 2019, DiDi upgraded its autonomous driving unit into an independent company.

Currently, DiDi Autonomous Driving has more than 500 R&D personnel, covering Perception, HD maps, Prediction, Planning and Control, Infrastructure and Simulation, etc.

The Company holds open-road testing licences in Shanghai, Beijing, Suzhou and Hefei in China, as well as California in the US. In June 2020, DiDi Autonomous Driving launched an on-demand robotaxi service in Shanghai.