Baidu in Cars

Baidu's strategic move to secure a presence in the automotive sector is remarkable. Baidu has achieved this by funding JIDU Auto (a substantial $400 million Series A financing round) , an AI driving joint venture with Geely. And then establishing the Ji Yue brand. Unlike JIDU Auto, the Ji Yue brand's ownership structure is distinct, with Geely holding a 65% majority stake and Baidu owning the remaining 35%. This unique ownership arrangement places Ji Yue under the umbrella of the Geely Group as a subsidiary, rather than a joint venture similar to JIDU Auto.

Baidu's strategic approach could serve as a blueprint for other companies looking to establish themselves in the automotive industry without starting from scratch. The combination of software expertise, substantial funding, and a well-structured partnership places Baidu in a dominant position within the automotive manufacturing business. This strategy may well be an attractive model for other tech companies, such as Apple and Google, seeking to make their mark in the automotive sector.

Companies outside the traditional automotive and tech sectors, including streaming providers like Netflix and Disney, may also be motivated to explore opportunities in the automotive space. With the increasing integration of infotainment systems and smart displays in vehicles, securing a presence in the automotive industry offers these companies the chance to expand their reach and influence. Imagine the potential of becoming the default search engine or content provider in the millions of vehicles produced by major OEMs.

The JiYue 01 ROBOCAR, which has been eagerly anticipated for over two years, was officially unveiled at the ROBODAY 2023 event in Shanghai. This autonomous EV boasts a range of impressive features, making it an exciting prospect for Chinese consumers. It is built upon Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA). The JiYue 01 ROBOCAR pioneers voice-activated/controlled parking outside the vehicle, allowing users to instruct the EV to park or pick up users from up to 2km away using its AVP autonomous valet parking function. It is equipped with NVIDIA DRIVE Orin autonomous drive chips and a vision-centric intelligent drive architecture, featuring 11 HD cameras, 12 ultrasonic radars, and 5-millimeter wave radars, supporting the ROBO Drive Max feature.

Geely and Baidu officially launch JiYue 01 ROBOCAR with AI and voice-activated parking (Link)

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