Autonomous Trucks
BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker, has decided to develop its own intelligent car software, abandoning a deal with Baidu to equip its EVs with Baidu’s autonomous driving technology. The initial agreement between BYD and Baidu was made in March 2022, with BYD intending to use Baidu’s technology, including navigation and automated valet parking, in its EVs. This deal was seen as a significant achievement for Baidu’s autonomous driving unit, Apollo. This decision is a setback for Baidu’s autonomous driving ambitions and reflects the challenges faced by the Chinese self-driving industry in achieving fully autonomous driving. To survive in this highly competitive market, autonomous driving companies must compete fiercely for orders from carmakers for their software solutions.