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Exclusive | Top Chinese EV maker BYD opts out of deal to use Baidu’s autonomous driving technology, sources say

  • BYD, the world’s largest EV maker, is looking to develop its own driver-assist technology, sources say
  • While the Apollo self-driving unit remains a priority for Baidu, CEO Robin Li has shifted his focus recently to developing ChatGPT-like chatbots

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Prototypes of vehicles equipped with Baidu’s Apollo autonomous driving platform are seen at the company’s Apollo Park in Beijing. Photo: Bloomberg
Che Panin BeijingandDaniel Renin Shanghai
BYD has walked away from a deal to equip its electric vehicles with Baidu’s autonomous driving technology, as the world’s largest EV maker eyes in-house development of intelligent car software, according to two people familiar with the matter.
BYD had initially agreed to use Baidu’s technology, including navigation and automated valet parking, in its EVs in March 2022. The deal was then seen as a major coup for Baidu’s autonomous driving unit Apollo, which was created in 2013 in pursuit of perfecting autonomous driving, an area CEO Robin Li Yanhong had set his eyes on before shifting his attention to a ChatGPT-like chatbot.

Baidu said during its third-quarter results in November 2022 that one of China’s largest carmakers intended to use the Apollo technology suite, calling the partnership a sign of “increasing appetite for its self-driving solutions from automakers”. The partner was subsequently revealed to be BYD.

The scrapping of the deal is a huge blow to Baidu’s autonomous driving ambitions, and is a reflection of the troubles facing the Chinese self-driving industry as fully autonomous driving has so far proven difficult.

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Baidu wins permits to offer fully driverless robotaxi service in Beijing

Baidu wins permits to offer fully driverless robotaxi service in Beijing

Baidu and BYD did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Baidu has invested billions of yuan in Apollo and still sees self-driving as a priority, according to one of the sources, who is an employee and declined to be named.

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