- Baidu is is considering contract manufacturing as per one of the people or creating a majority-owned venture with automakers
- The report said that the people said declining to be identified as the talks were private that Baidu has held preliminary talks without reaching any decisions with automakers
As per a report by Reuters, China’s Baidu Inc is considering making its own electric vehicles and has held talks with automakers about the possibility asper three people with knowledge of the matter. The report added that Baidu is is considering contract manufacturing as per one of the people or creating a majority-owned venture with automakers.
The report said that the people said declining to be identified as the talks were private that Baidu has held preliminary talks without reaching any decisions with automakers including Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd and China FAW Group Corp Ltd’s Hongqi, on a possible venture. Baidu declined to comment.
Preliminary talks
As per the report, GAC said it has a strategic partnership with Baidu and that any further cooperation is subject to discussion. Geely said it was not familiar with the matter. FAW did not respond to a request for comment. The report said that Baidu established autonomous driving unit Apollo in 2017. It mainly supplies technology powered by artificial intelligence and work with automakers such as Geely, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp and Ford Motor Co .
The report adds that its talks regarding manufacturing come after Didi Chuxing last month launched a purpose-built van for ride-hailing services with automaker BYD Co Ltd. In January, Sony Corp unveiled an electric concept car with self-driving functions.
