French auto parts manufacturer Valeo has announced its strategic partnership and investment agreement with Didi Autonomous Driving, a division of Didi Global, to tap into the rapidly expanding autonomous driving sector in China. The collaboration aims to jointly develop safety solutions for L4 robotaxis.
Although the exact amount of Valeo’s investment was not disclosed in the press releases issued by both companies, the agreement signifies their commitment to advancing autonomous driving technology. Geoffrey BOUQUOT, Valeo’s Executive Vice President Strategy and CTO, expressed his pride in signing the agreement and emphasized the importance of combining research and development efforts for safety innovations.
Valeo and Didi Autonomous Driving will establish a collaborative research and development team dedicated to designing safety systems specifically for L4 robotaxis. These systems will augment the primary technology of L4 standard autonomous driving with an additional set of hardware and software, ensuring safe and autonomous navigation.
To enhance user safety, the Automated Safety Pilot developed by Valeo and Didi Autonomous Driving will serve as a backup to the primary system in the event of unexpected failures. Moreover, this intelligent safety solution will be customized to address specific operational scenarios, allowing it to assume control of the robotaxi and execute actions that ensure passenger and road user safety.
The initial deployment of this intelligent safety solution will be on Didi Autonomous Driving’s L4 robotaxis, as outlined in their joint press releases. Didi’s autonomous driving team, which was established in 2016, has made significant strides in the field. In 2017, the ride-hailing giant inaugurated its first AI lab outside China in California, highlighting its global ambitions. Didi further demonstrated its commitment to autonomous driving in 2019 when it transformed its autonomous driving division into a separate entity.
During an autonomous driving open day event in April, Didi unveiled its driverless concept vehicle, Didi Neuron, which features an expanded passenger space and eliminates the need for a driver’s seat. The company has witnessed substantial growth, with its autonomous driving team now comprising nearly 1,000 members—a threefold increase from the previous year, according to Didi Autonomous Driving’s COO, Meng Xing.
By partnering with Didi Autonomous Driving, Valeo aims to leverage its expertise in automotive technology to contribute to the advancement of autonomous driving capabilities, particularly in terms of safety solutions. This collaboration represents a significant step forward for both companies in the development of autonomous vehicles and their integration into daily transportation.
