Baidu’s Jidu Auto releases virtual concept robocar as intelligent EV unit moves towards mass production in 2023

Jidu Auto’s chief executive Xia Yiping introduced the company’s first concept robocar, called Robo-01, in Xi Rang

A planned production car in 2023 is expected to be about 90 per cent similar to the virtual concept car introduced on Wednesday

Reading Time:2 minutes

A staff member walks past ROBO-01, a “robot” concept car by Baidu’s electric vehicle (EV) arm Jidu Auto. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:43pm, 8 Jun 2022Updated: 9:49pm, 8 Jun 2022

Jidu Automotive, the intelligent electric vehicle (EV)-making unit of tech giant Baidu, has released a virtual model of its first concept robocar as it moves towards planned mass production of EVs in 2023.

At a press conference on Wednesday that opened with a segment from classic US sci-fi series Knight Rider, Jidu Auto’s chief executive Xia Yiping introduced the company’s first concept robocar, called Robo-01, in Baidu’s version of the metaverse Xi Rang.

“The Jidu robocar aims to meet users’ needs for intelligent travel, in-car intelligent assistance and an intelligent cabin in the new era,” said Xia, the co-founder and former chief technology officer of bicycle-sharing company Mobike, during the virtual press conference.

After setting up Jidu with leading mainland carmaker Geely last March, the release of Robo-1 marks a milestone for Baidu as it seeks to take on more established rivals such as Tesla and domestic EV start-ups such as Nio, Li Auto and XPeng.

The concept robocar contains features including a 3D borderless dash screen, zero-gravity seating, a U-shaped steering wheel and adjustable lidar. The 3D cockpit platform operates with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips.

As Jidu readies its first production model, competitors have been refining their offerings in autonomous driving, a technology which has faced criticism in recent years due to complaints over malfunctions and some fatal accidents.

Tesla’s founder Elon Musk recently said that Tesla aims to have self-driving cars, without the need for human intervention, by May 2023.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x