Aptiv Brings Self-Driving Tech to China with New Shanghai Center
Aptiv opens an autonomous mobility center in Shanghai, marking its fifth global market for self-driving operations. The company plans to test vehicles on public roads by late 2019 and is seeking local partners for mapping and deployment.
Aptiv opens a new autonomous mobility center in Shanghai to develop and deploy its self-driving technology on public roads. This expansion establishes China as the fifth global market for the company's autonomous vehicle operations, alongside Boston, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, and Singapore. Although Aptiv has never operated autonomous vehicles in China before, the company leverages a long manufacturing and engineering history in the country that dates back to 1993.
The company views the Chinese market as an extraordinary opportunity, pointing to research that suggests the country will host two-thirds of the world's autonomous-driven miles by 2040. Aptiv plans to put its self-driving cars on Chinese public roads by the second half of 2019. The company's leadership emphasizes that hands-on public testing is the best way to learn and adapt their technology to new environments.
To successfully navigate the unique regulatory landscape in China, Aptiv actively seeks partnerships for mapping and commercial deployment. The company adapts its strategy to comply with strict local rules regarding data collection, intellectual property, and high-resolution map creation. These Chinese partnerships will likely differ from Aptiv's U.S. collaborations, such as its successful integration with Lyft that provides thousands of paid autonomous rides in Las Vegas.