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Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles

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
Robots weld bodyshells of cars at Li Auto’s plant in Changzhou, in eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: Xinhua
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s car parts, software industry to hit US$356 billion by 2030

Market for car parts and software is likely to grow at an annualised pace of 28.8 per cent between 2026 and 2030.

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Artificial intelligence

From autonomous driving to GenAI: TuSimple shifts gears as founders quarrel

Banking & finance

Chinese IPOs surge in Hong Kong as Minieye and Guming line up

Millionaires and billionaires

Elon Musk’s net worth tops US$400 billion in historic first

The most recent catalyst was an insider share sale of his privately held SpaceX, which boosted Musk’s net worth by some US$50 billion.

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Elon Musk jumps on stage as he joins Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on October 5. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

EV test drive: Xpeng P7+ offers luxury, space, AI driving assistance

The Guangzhou-based company’s fast-selling new model has ample creature comforts and a smoother self-driving experience than its forebears.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Xiaomi SU7: an electric car that’s more than just a fanboy effect

Xiaomi has found runaway success with the SU7, but some have said the company could have done more to create its own look.

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IPO

Chinese self-driving car firm Pony AI’s shares sink 7% after US IPO

Pony’s pricing was pushed back from last week as the firm increased the deal size and addressed regulator questions.

The logo of autonomous driving start-up Pony.ai is seen on a screen during an event in Beijing, China, May 13, 2021. Photo: Reuters
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

The ride-hailing giant may consider using Pony AI’s autonomous-driving technology outside the US, a source says.

Artificial intelligence

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

Baidu chief executive Robin Li said the RT6 is now the world’s only mass-produced Level-4 autonomous driving vehicle.

Baidu says the RT6 is the world’s only mass-produced, Level-4 autonomous-driving vehicle. Photo: AP
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’.

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.

Tencent’s Shenzhen headquarters seen on July 10, 2022. The tech giant has renewed its partnership with German automotive supplier Bosch as it seeks to expand the use of its AI services in electric vehicles. Photo: AFP
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.

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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.

Workers at a Pony AI operation centre in Beijing, August 21, 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE
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.

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