The search engine chief, which additionally develops autonomous driving expertise and web connectivity infrastructure, is contemplating contract manufacturing, one of many individuals mentioned, or making a majority-owned enterprise with automakers.
The initiative can be a step up from web friends reminiscent of Tencent Holdings Ltd, Amazon.com Inc and Alphabet Inc, which have additionally developed auto-related expertise or invested in smart-car startups.
Baidu has held preliminary talks – with out reaching any selections – with automakers together with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd and China FAW Group Corp Ltd’s Hongqi, on a attainable enterprise, the individuals mentioned, declining to be recognized because the talks had been non-public.
Baidu declined to remark. GAC mentioned it has a strategic partnership with Baidu and that any additional cooperation is topic to dialogue. Geely mentioned it was not conversant in the matter. FAW didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Baidu established autonomous driving unit Apollo in 2017. The unit primarily provides expertise powered by synthetic intelligence and work with automakers reminiscent of Geely, Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp and Ford Motor Co .
Baidu operates autonomous taxi service Go Robotaxi with security drivers on board in Beijing, Changsha and Cangzhou, and plans to develop to 30 cities in three years. It gained approval final week to check 5 automobiles in Beijing with out security drivers.
Its talks concerning manufacturing come after Didi Chuxing final month launched a purpose-built van for ride-hailing companies with automaker BYD Co Ltd. In the meantime tech large Sony Corp in January unveiled an electrical idea automobile with self-driving capabilities.
Constructing automobiles would symbolize a dramatic growth in Baidu’s push to diversify earnings streams as development plateaus in its core search enterprise, the place income grew simply 2% final 12 months.
