Shanghai offers more support for ICV industry
Shanghai issued its first batch of intelligent and connected vehicle (ICV) testing license plates for the Yangtze River Delta region at an event on Monday, amidst other efforts to promote the industry.
During the 2019 World Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystem Conference held in Shanghai, Nanjing-based autonomous driving company AllRide.ai and Zhejiang-based automaker Geely received the licenses which allow them to conduct testing on open roads in Jiading District.
The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization said the testing licenses will bolster interconnectivity, intercommunication and mutual recognition of intelligent and connected vehicles in Shanghai, as well as nearby Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. They will also reduce unnecessary repeated testing, save costs for auto companies and promote industry development in the region.
The city also issued the country's first batch of ICV demonstration licenses to three companies: SAIC Motor Co, BMW and Didi. The licenses allow these companies to conduct demonstration applications on urban roads. They are different from open-road testing licenses.
In addition, Shanghai has extended the length of roads for autonomous vehicle testing from 11.1 kilometers to 53.6 kilometers, the city government said on Monday. The testing area consists of various environments including industrial areas, commercial areas, transportation hubs and residential areas.
Wu Qing, vice mayor of Shanghai, said the city is a national leader in the ICV field. Wu said the city has allocated related talent and focuses on key areas including research and development, design, telecommunication and electronics, voice recognition and smart manufacturing.
Wu said that the city will further support high-quality development of the auto industry and build the Yangtze River Delta region into a world-leading hub.
During the conference, Shanghai also launched its 5G-based smart transportation demonstration project, known as 5GAA. The Jiading District government, SAIC Motor, China Mobile, Huawei and other companies will jointly explore 5G application and promotion in the project.