Following the success of its driverless car road test earlier this year, Baidu has announced the establishment of an Autonomous Car Division on Monday. Wang Jin, Baidu’s Senior Vice President, has been pointed as General Manager of the division. Baidu has appointed two other General Managers to the division, Li Zhenyu, Baidu Senior Director, and Lin Yuanqing, Head of Baidu’s Deep Learning Institute.
Wang announced the Autonomous Car Division would focus on technological development, manufacturing and advancing its new driverless car ecosystem. The division is dedicated to expanding autonomous cars for commercial use in three years with mass production expected in five years.
Wang, the newly announced GM of the Autonomous Car Division, joined Baidu in April 2014, assuming the position of Vice President of Technology, before becoming Baidu Senior Vice President and at the same time President of Baidu Technology Strategy Board. Prior to his role at Baidu, Wang served successively as Senior Technical Director at Alibaba, CTO of Ebay China, General Manager of Ebay China’s R&D Center, and Vice President of the Engineering Institute of Google China.
According to Wang, the Autonomous Car Division will be committed to developing autonomous technology, making autonomous cars with cooperation from other partners, and advancing the commercial use of driverless cars. This will further the goal of an intelligent traveling service for the public.
In addition to parts manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, and travel service providers, Baidu will partner with government departments, associations and relevant firms, to construct its “intelligent travel” ecosystem.
Last Thursday, Baidu’s autonomous car successfully completed road tests by executing a set of driving actions, on a route with mixed road conditions in Beijing.
