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Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles

A still from Korean AI-powered film Mateo. Creators say AI opens the door for anyone to create content, but question whether it can sustain viewer engagement. Photo: MBC C&I
SCMP Highlights

Recap | AI fiasco over fake Japan attractions, ChatGPT drives new K-dramas: 6 latest AI stories

From Fukuoka’s tourism mishap to Apple’s Siri upgrade, discover how artificial intelligence is impacting our lives in this AI round-up.

Artificial intelligence

Uber said to eye US$10 million stake in IPO of China’s Pony AI

Artificial intelligence

Baidu cuts self-driving vehicle costs to US$34,525 as mass production ramps up

China economy

My Take | Tesla is getting love from Chinese state media, but can the affair last?

Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily praised Tesla for sparking an EV boom, but Musk’s role in a new Trump administration could complicate matters.

Tesla’s China-made Model 3 vehicles seen during a delivery event at its factory in Shanghai on January 7, 2020. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong transport

Tech giant Baidu applies to launch autonomous vehicle trials in Hong Kong

Baidu, which operates driverless taxis across the border in Wuhan, wants to test autonomous vehicles at Hong Kong airport.

Electric & new energy vehicles

EV review: BYD’s Dolphin is the ideal city car for zipping around town

The German news agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur said in August 2023 that the Dolphin was ‘a real threat to the German car industry’.

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Start-ups

Chinese self-driving truck start-up Autra.tech scales down operations

Financing issues and potential US sanctions prompt Autra.tech to cut salaries of staff, cancel new development and suspend delivery orders.

Autra.tech’s troubles reflect the persistent funding challenges many start-ups face in mainland China. Photo: Autra.tech
Tencent

Tencent renews partnership with Bosch for deeper smart car collaboration

Tencent signed new MOUs with the German automotive supplier, as the Chinese tech giant seeks to expand the use of its AI services in EVs.

Artificial intelligence

China’s DeepRoute.ai raises US$100 million to accelerate self-driving tech

The Shenzhen-based start-up expects nearly 200,000 cars to be equipped with its advanced assisted driving system by the end of 2025.

Artificial intelligence

Toyota, NTT to spend US$3.27 billion on mobility AI system for self-driving cars

The mobility AI platform is envisioned to support autonomous driving, while targeting a reduction of traffic accidents to zero.

FILE PHOTO: Toyota’s logo is seen in their exhibition stall at Bharat Mobility Global Expo organised by India’s commerce ministry at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, India, February 1, 2024. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis/File Photo
US-China tech war

China’s Hesai to keep challenging Pentagon’s blacklist decision

The US Department of Defence is reinstating the Chinese lidar maker in its blacklist, reversing an earlier decision.

Hesai makes lidars used in self-driving cars and driver-assistance systems. Photo: Handout
Artificial intelligence

Chinese robotaxi start-up WeRide files for US$119 million IPO

The IPO would be one of the largest US listings by a Chinese firm since Didi Global’s in 2021.

China technology

Tesla, HSBC among first foreign firms in China to apply for telecoms trials

The pilot allows foreign companies to ‘engage deeply in the Chinese market for services including cloud computing and computing power’.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China EVs: Geely’s Zeekr launches MPV aimed at middle-income families

Zeekr called its Mix MPV ‘an intelligent living room on wheels’.

The Zeekr Mix at its launch event in Hangzhou on Wednesday. Photo: Zeekr
Artificial intelligence

Elon Musk sued for using Blade Runner imagery in Tesla event

The Cybercab unveiling earlier this month included a presentation slide with an AI-generated image similar to a shot from the film.

The Tesla Cybercab. Photo: Handout via TNS
US presidential election 2024

Mexico’s new government considers tax incentives to lure foreign companies

Mexico is assessing how to spark more investment as companies look to move supply chains closer to their main market, the United States.

Electric & new energy vehicles

When it comes to EVs, Chinese consumers are spoiled for choice

Extended range, autonomous driving, sofas, refrigerators … BYD, Li Auto, Xpeng, Geely, Nio and others tick all the boxes in their pursuit of consumers.

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Tesla

Tesla’s autonomous driving roll-out in China may face delays amid data concerns

Tesla has Chinese government support to trial some self-driving features, state media reported, but no full self-driving systems have been approved yet.

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A Tesla Model 3 using the full self-driving autopilot feature on a highway in California on October 12. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Chinese robotaxi firm Pony AI files for US IPO

Pony AI, in which Toyota owns a 13.4 per cent stake, revealed that its revenue nearly doubled to US$24.7 million in the first half of 2024.

American cinema

Director mocks Tesla’s Musk over sci-fi movie looks of Robovan, Optimus

Director of I, Robot film suggests Elon Musk copied its designs for Tesla’s Robovan autonomous bus, Cybercab and Optimus robot.

Pony.ai teams up with Alibaba’s Amap for robotaxi expansion in China

Pony.ai’s robotaxi fleet in the pilot zone in Nansha, Guangzhou is now accessible from Amap, the Alibaba-backed online mapping service.

Outside Guangzhou, Pony.ai offers robotaxi service in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng’s AI-driven P7+ challenges Tesla, eyes China’s autonomous driving market

The EV maker launched the presale of the P7+ from 209,800 yuan (US$29,500), 10 per cent cheaper than the base model of Tesla Model 3.

The Xpeng P7+ is unveiled at the Paris Auto Show on Monday. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Tesla Optimus robots at showcase were remotely controlled by humans

The use of human input raises questions over the capabilities and market readiness of the bot, despite Elon Musk’s enthusiasm.

Tesla

Tesla car fire kills 4 in France

Accident happened outside the French city of Niort, causing the deaths of the driver and three passengers.

Trending in China

Sleeping China driver in self-driving car condemned for dangerous behaviour

Viral online video shows driver and passenger watching a movie while falling asleep under blankets inside speeding vehicle.

A driver in China who fell asleep at the wheel of a speeding self-driving car has been condemned for his dangerous behaviour. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Douyin

Tesla’s robotaxi event draws mixed reaction in China

Tesla live-streamed the event across almost every major Chinese social media platform, where it quickly became a top trending topic.

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Tesla’s robotaxi is displayed at an unveiling event in Los Angeles, October 10, 2024, in this still image taken from a video. Photo: Handout via Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng banks on Eagle Eye to enhance autonomous driving in new P7+ sedan

The Eagle Eye system is more accurate in information collection than lidar sensors used in its existing models like P5 sedan and G6 SUV.

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Baidu

Baidu eyes global markets for self-driving cars as Tesla gears up for robotaxis

Baidu’s Apollo Go completed about 899,000 rides in the three months to June this year, a year-on-year increase of 26 per cent.

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Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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