[240920] #Inceptio #Wayve #BMW

1. Inceptio Technology Makes Landmark Single Delivery of 400 Autonomous Heavy-Duty Trucks to ZTO Express

• Inceptio Technology delivered 400 autonomous heavy-duty trucks to ZTO Express, marking the largest single delivery of intelligent trucks globally.
• The trucks, co-developed with Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Co., are equipped with Inceptio’s Autonomous Driving System, advancing the commercialization of autonomous logistics.
• This delivery will enhance ZTO Express’s logistics network by reducing costs, improving efficiency, and boosting operational value.
• Inceptio’s autonomous trucks are being increasingly commercialized in various logistics sectors, including express delivery and LTL transportation.
• ZTO Express is expanding its fleet with these autonomous trucks to improve safety, efficiency, and profitability in its operations.
• Julian Ma, CEO of Inceptio, highlighted the milestone as a significant step in transforming the logistics industry with autonomous technology.

2. Wayve and Uber Partner: Are We Still Roads Away From Fully Autonomous Driving?

• Uber and UK AI self-driving software company Wayve announced a strategic partnership to accelerate autonomous vehicle projects, aiming to deploy Level 4 self-driving vehicles in Uber’s network.
• The partnership will help Wayve enhance Level 2 and Level 3 automated driving capabilities with funding from Uber.
• Wayve’s mapless AI technology allows self-driving cars to operate without geofenced limits, with plans to integrate into Uber’s global network.
• Uber has also partnered with General Motors’ Cruise to introduce robotaxis by 2025, despite past safety concerns with Cruise.
• Fully autonomous vehicles (Level 5) are still years away due to technical and regulatory challenges, with predictions pushing full autonomy to 2035.
• Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving” system has faced criticism for safety issues, heightening regulatory scrutiny.

Uber collaborates with Wayve to fast-track Level 4 self-driving technology, planning global deployment in its ride-hailing service.

3. As with EVs, China self-driving cars have Tesla in their sights

• Baidu operates around 400 driverless taxis in Wuhan, supported by government subsidies, offering fares at less than half the cost of traditional cabs.
• Beijing strongly supports innovation in the auto industry, with Chinese companies rivaling Tesla in electric vehicles and autonomous driving.
• Baidu plans to expand its self-driving taxi service to 100 cities by 2030 and aims to achieve profitability with 1,000 vehicles on the road.
• While some Wuhan residents find the service cost-effective, taxi and ride-hailing drivers have protested, fearing job losses and technological immaturity.
• The Chinese government remains committed to advancing autonomous driving, seeing Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system as a benchmark.
• China aims to replicate its success in EVs with Tesla in the autonomous driving sector, leveraging a vast domestic market and collaboration across industry, government, and academia.

4. Jointly promoting the robot service business in Japan “Korea-Japan International Joint R&D Project.” Aim to Advance Self-Driving Robot Technology

5. BMW ramps up autonomous driving technology development in China

• BMW Group is accelerating autonomous driving technology development with new facilities at its Shenyang R&D center in China, opening a data processing center in September and a test workshop in December.
• The data processing center will efficiently handle autonomous driving test data, while the test workshop will validate functions for new local models.
• BMW’s Chinese R&D team aims to push the boundaries of autonomous driving technology and advance higher levels of automation.
• BMW Brilliance Automotive plans to strengthen cooperation with Shenyang in vehicle testing, information sharing, and autonomous driving policy formulation.
• The Shenyang facility is BMW’s largest global production base and a key site for new energy vehicle (NEV) development, contributing to BMW’s extensive R&D network in China.