Geely Holding Group, the Chinese car manufacturer, and Baidu Inc., the tech giant, have unveiled their first artificial intelligence-powered electric vehicle, the Ji Yue 01. This innovative SUV, priced from 249,900 yuan ($34,151.8), boasts an array of cutting-edge features, including level 4 (L4) autonomous driving technology, a voice-activated control system, and advanced intelligent cabins. Notably, L4 autonomy signifies that the vehicle can operate without a human driver in most conditions.
The Ji Yue 01 integrates Ernie Bot, a language model similar to Baidu’s ChatGPT, to provide an immersive AI-driven experience within the intelligent vehicle. Moreover, the vehicle offers an impressive driving range, with the capability to cover up to 720 kilometers on a single charge.
The collaboration between Baidu and Geely gave rise to a joint venture named Jidu Auto in March 2021, with a dedicated focus on the development of intelligent electric vehicles. The partnership reached a significant milestone in August, introducing Ji Yue as a premium intelligent technology brand.
China’s electric vehicle market has witnessed remarkable growth in recent times, with September data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers revealing a 27.7 percent year-on-year expansion in sales of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). In the first nine months of this year, NEV sales surged by 37.5 percent compared to the previous year, totaling 6.28 million units.
The launch of Ji Yue 01 reflects the ongoing advancements in China’s electric vehicle industry, where innovative technologies and AI-driven capabilities are becoming increasingly prevalent. The introduction of such vehicles is expected to contribute to the continued growth and development of the NEV sector in China and beyond.
