Smart vehicle test zone launched in Fengxian
An autonomous vehicle is parked up at Lingang Nanqiao Sci-Tech City on Saturday.
An autonomous vehicle cleans the street around Lingang Nanqiao Sci-Tech City.
A new test zone for intelligent and connected vehicles was announced for the FTZ on the southern outskirts over the weekend.
In Fengxian District, testing will focus on special roads and scenarios, including industrial parks, large underground garages and rural roads.
Based in Lingang Nanqiao Sci-tech Park, the city's third test space for intelligent and connect vehicles follows areas in Jiading District and the Pudong New Area.
The new zone, to start operations next year, is part of an agreement signed by Fengxian government, Lingang Group and Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Saturday to develop an automotive "Future Space," reflecting the city 's ambition to become a global automobile industry center.
The new park will help innovation in the automobile industry through cooperation between government, academia and business, said Wu Jincheng, chairman of Shanghai Commission of Economy and Informatization.
The newly test center for intelligent and connected vehicles
The district government will take charge of the infrastructure and provide assistance on land, funds and public services.
The Lingang Group will develop the innovation park based on models developed at Nanqiao sci-tech city and Lingang Fengxian park, attracting projects, incubators and research institutes to create an international community of talent.
The university will provide new technology and professionals. Laboratories and work stations will focus on safety test and certification and hydrogen fuel cells.
Wu said the park could become a center for intelligent and connect vehicles in south Shanghai.
The first seven companies signed contracts to move into the park on Saturday, including automated car developer Allride and hydrogen fuel cell developer H-rise.
Three Allride autonomous cars started testing at Nanqiao Sci-Tech City at the weekend. Wang Jin, CEO of the company, said the company's cars will be tested across Fengxian and Lingang next year.
Shanghai aims to become an innovation center for intelligent and connected vehicles by 2020 and take a lead in the sector by 2025.
Automobile support industries in Fengxian have an annual output of about 16 billion yuan (US$2.3 billion), accounting for 10 percent of the district's industrial production.
The district started planning on the Future Space park last year after US electric carmaker Tesla announced it would build its first overseas plant — worth US$7 billion — in Lingang. Production will begin before the end of the year.
Officials from Fengxian District, Lingang Group and Jiao Tong University agree to work together on the "Future Space" innovation park.
