China’s national AI champion Baidu to test driverless delivery vans in US with Udelv for Walmart

  • Nasdaq-listed Baidu announced the deal with California-based autonomous delivery van maker Udelv on sidelines of the 2019 CES tech fair
  • Deal highlights global nature of many emerging technologies as US and China remain locked in trade talks

Sarah Daiin Beijing
Under the deal, Apollo 3.5 will be used in Udelv’s new self-driving van model. Jan. 2019. Photo: Handout

One of China's tech champions will soon be testing its driverless technology in Arizona for customers including Walmart, underscoring how US companies remain potential buyers of Chinese technology even as the two countries remain locked in a race for tech supremacy.

Baidu, operator of China’s largest search engine, has entered a partnership deal with California-based autonomous delivery start-up Udelv that will see self-driving vans powered by its software offer delivery services to American retailers such as Walmart from February.

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