Vueron Newsletter
No. 193
2025.04.04
| Driverless ‘bus of the future’ is tested in Barcelona | ||
| LiDAR | Mercedes taps China’s Hesai for lidar | |
| Autonomous Driving | Inside WeRide’s Global Autonomous Robotaxi Expansion | |
| Rivian Updates Its EVs With Hands-Free Driving and Performance Modes, but There’s a Catch | ||
| Tesla working with Baidu to improve its smart driving system in China, report says |
1. Driverless ‘bus of the future’ is tested in Barcelona
- Renault and WeRide are testing a driverless electric mini-bus on a 2.2 km circular route in downtown Barcelona.
- The bus, equipped with 10 cameras and 8 LiDAR sensors, can operate safely in dense urban environments with cars, motorcycles, and pedestrians.
- The test marks a major step for Europe, where autonomous vehicle adoption has lagged behind the US and China.
- Renault plans further tests in Valence, France, and Zurich airport as it pushes for autonomous public transport in Europe.
- Barcelona officials confirmed no accidents have been reported during the test, reinforcing public trust in autonomous mobility.
- The electric bus can travel 120 km on a single charge and reach speeds of 40 km/h (25 mph).
- This initiative aligns with global trends, as cities like San Francisco and Tokyo also test autonomous public transport.
Renault and WeRide are testing a LiDAR-equipped driverless mini-bus in Barcelona, marking a key step in Europe’s autonomous public transport development.
2. Mercedes taps China’s Hesai for lidar, bypassing U.S. suppliers
- Mercedes-Benz has selected Hesai’s LiDAR sensors for its smart driving vehicles, marking the first global automaker to adopt Chinese-made LiDAR.
- Hesai was chosen for its cost efficiency and ability to scale production, making it a competitive option for integrating LiDAR into autonomous systems.
- LiDAR enhances ADAS and autonomous driving by offering highly detailed 3D mapping, improving vehicle perception and hazard detection.
- Most ADAS systems today rely on radar and sonar, but LiDAR provides more precise and real-time environmental awareness.
- Despite industry debates on sensor technology, LiDAR adoption continues to grow as automakers seek higher accuracy in autonomous navigation.
- Mercedes-Benz’s move reflects the increasing role of LiDAR in next-generation vehicle safety, reinforcing its importance in future mobility solutions.
- This decision could accelerate LiDAR integration in mainstream vehicles, influencing other automakers to adopt similar technology.
3. Inside WeRide’s Global Autonomous Robotaxi Expansion
- WeRide has received approval to operate commercial Robotaxi services in Beijing’s core urban area, connecting the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA) and Beijing South Railway Station.
- With this expansion, WeRide’s operational area in Beijing now exceeds 600 km², improving urban accessibility and reinforcing its leadership in autonomous mobility.
- The high-traffic Beijing South Railway Station serves over 150,000 passengers daily, making it a key testbed for autonomous ride-hailing.
- WeRide operates in nearly 10 cities worldwide, including Guangzhou, Nanjing, Abu Dhabi, and Zurich, and previously partnered with Uber to launch the largest Robotaxi fleet in the Middle East.
- Future plans include expanding Robotaxi coverage in Beijing to major hubs like airports and railway stations while scaling its business model to new global markets.
WeRide expands its commercial Robotaxi services in Beijing, operating in a 600 km² area that includes the high-traffic Beijing South Railway Station, further solidifying its role as a global leader in autonomous mobility.
4. Rivian Updates Its EVs With Hands-Free Driving and Performance Modes, but There’s a Catch
- Rivian has launched Enhanced Highway Assist (EHA), a hands-free driving system for Gen 2 R1 vehicles, but it only functions on pre-mapped highways.
- EHA monitors driver attention using an infrared cabin camera, allowing extended hands-free driving, though driver intervention is still required.
- Rivian aims to develop a more advanced hands-free system by late 2025 and an eyes-off autonomous driving system by 2026.
- The update also includes a $5,000 Performance upgrade for Dual-Motor vehicles, boosting power to 665 hp and adding Sport, Rally, and Soft Sand driving modes.
- New safety features include Tire Puncture Detection to monitor slow leaks and Side Mirror Auto-Tilt on Reverse to assist parking.
- Rivian owners can now control the charge port door remotely via the mobile app, adding convenience to EV charging management.
Rivian launches Enhanced Highway Assist, a hands-free driving system for Gen 2 R1 vehicles on pre-mapped highways, alongside new performance upgrades, driving modes, and safety features to enhance ADAS capabilities.
5. Tesla working with Baidu to improve its smart driving system in China, report says
- Tesla is collaborating with Baidu to integrate Baidu’s high-precision maps into FSD (Full Self-Driving) Version 13, improving ADAS capabilities in China.
- Baidu engineers are working with Tesla’s Beijing office to enhance lane marking and traffic signal recognition, making FSD more adaptable to local road conditions.
- Tesla’s latest software update (2024.45.32.12) includes city navigation features, allowing for better smart driving functionality in urban environments.
- China’s data regulations prevent Tesla from using local vehicle data for AI training, requiring alternative approaches to improve FSD.
- To address this, Tesla has deployed U.S. engineers to China to optimize FSD locally while complying with regulatory restrictions.
- Tesla is refining its self-driving technology to meet China’s market needs, strengthening its position in the global autonomous mobility sector.
Tesla partners with Baidu to integrate high-precision maps into FSD V13, aiming to improve ADAS performance in China despite data restrictions.
*Contents above are the opinion of ChatGPT, not an individual nor company
