Baidu, a leading Chinese autonomous driving technology developer, won a bid from the local government to construct an intelligent-driving project in the southwestern city of Chengdu.
Under the 105 million yuan ($16 million) deal, Baidu will develop 30 kilometers of intelligent connected roads, build a 5G-based intelligent connected vehicle demonstration zone, and provide self-driving bus and taxi services to local residents, the company said.
Baidu didn’t disclose a time frame for implementing the project.
Chengdu, with a population of more than 16 million, is the third most populated city in China, after Shanghai and Beijing.
Baidu has rolled out demonstration robotaxi programs in Shanghai, Beijing and other major Chinese cities, including Guangzhou and Chongqing.
In January, Baidu said it would join the largest private Chinese automaker, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, to develop self-driving electric vehicles with autonomous driving technology and Geely’s first open-source EV architecture.
The partnership plans to introduce the first vehicle in about three years, Baidu’s founder and CEO Robin Li said on a conference call with company investors last month.