Honda China is collaborating with AutoX on autonomous driving research in China. As part of the public road testing, Honda will provide Accord and Inspire vehicles that utilize AutoX’s self-driving technology.
AutoX In China
AutoX is currently one of the frontrunners for Level 4 autonomous driving in China, operating over 100 robotaxis in cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Wuhan. The company has been testing and deploying driverless robitaxis in China since April 2020 in the city of Shenzhen. In July 2020, AutoX obtained the second fully driverless robotaxi permit from California’s DMV, making it the first driverless permit holder from China. More recently (January 2021), AutoX launched the world’s second and China’s first and fully driverless public robotaxi service.
Role of Honda
As part of the collaboration, Honda is expected to adopt and leverage AutoX’s technology and experience when it comes to autonomous testing in China’s most populated cities. Honda aims to deepen its understanding of China’s traffic environment, seek out new technology solutions, and help facilitate public acceptance of autonomous driving. The automaker started offering its Honda Sensing package in China in 2015 and is currently preparing for the next generation of the ADAS suite. Earlier in 2021, Honda launched the first mass-production Level 3 vehicle in the Japanese market.
Availability
The AutoX robotaxi service in Shanghai is available for the public through an app. According to a recent report from Allied Market Research, the global robotaxi market is expected to hit $38.61 billion by 2030.
