Chinese tech giant Baidu is exploring potential collaboration opportunities with Tesla, particularly in the realm of robotaxi technology. The news comes from Shanghai Security News, which quotes Baidu’s General Manager of Autonomous Driving Technology, Xu Baoqiang, as saying that the company could use “Tesla’s specific application models” and is considering “possible cooperation opportunities” between the two brands.
The potential collaboration could leverage Baidu’s existing HD mapping of major Chinese cities, which it can provide to companies for their self-driving products. This is a significant factor in Tesla’s decision to partner with Baidu for more advanced mapping needs, as it seeks approval to launch its Full Self-Driving (FSD) product in China.
Tesla and Baidu have been working closely together since at least 2020 for in-car mapping and navigation tech. The relationship is set to deepen as Tesla plans to launch its robotaxi product in China.
Baidu also has its own self-driving arm, with the recent release of its sixth-generation robotaxi platform. This platform boasts a 60% lower cost than previous generations and is equipped with 40 separate sensors, including five lidar units. It also delivers 1,200 teraflops of computing power onboard compared to 245 TOPS in Tesla’s current FSD “HW4” Hardware.
Despite these advancements, Baidu is still considering what it could target with a potential Tesla partnership. This could include leasing FSD software or the vehicle form factor. However, it’s still unclear what the exact nature of the collaboration could be.
According to Xu Baoqiang, more information is needed about Tesla’s robotaxi business model, its status post-release, and its potential entry into the Chinese market. He emphasized the need for further observation of Tesla’s overall application model and the progress of its entry into China.
While the potential collaboration holds promise, it remains to be seen whether anything will come of it.
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