New Testing Zones for Autonomous Driving in China

The automotive industry faces major challenges. Not only are new manufacturers such as Tesla entering the market, but also the established OEM’s are investing billions in new technologies. Especially autonomous driving will be a major topic in the future. Already today, manufacturers are developing feasible application for self-driving cars.

Experts estimate that China, already being the largest market for automobiles in the world, will be one of the leading sales markets for autonomous vehicles. Until recently, there have not been many restrictions for the testing of self-driving cars on public streets, however the Chinese administration just announced a new more restrictive course. Due to concerns over safety, they will only allow practical testing in special testing zones.

The French automotive manufacturer Renault already accepted the initiative and signed acontract for the development of a testing zone for autonomous driving together with two Chinese partners, the Wuhan Development Group and the Renault Joint-Venture Dongfeng Renault Automotive Group. Target of the Memorandum of Understanding is the establishment and operation of a testing zone for autonomous driving in Wuhan. The core of the testing zone is a 2km long lakeside road on which street testing for self-driving cars is planned. The project is planned to be started in November of this year.

This will only be one of several testing zones within the People’s Republic of China. In the city of Zhangzhou, Fujian province, Chinese Authorities are planning to build the world’s largest testing zone for autonomous driving. The project was started in December of 2016 and is supposed to enable testing of autonomous cars at a city-level lab road network complete with traffic signs. One part of the testing area is expected to be opened by the end of 2017.

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