The first electric vehicle to be launched in three years will be targeted at young customers and will have a robotic look
Jidu Auto aims to launch its first electric vehicle in three years. (Credit: Free-Photos from Pixabay)
Baidu and Geely’s electric vehicle (EV) joint venture (JV) – Jidu Auto is reportedly considering investing CNY50bn ($7.7bn) to manufacture smart cars.
The investment will be made over the coming five years, reported Reuters, citing Jidu Auto chief executive Xia Yiping.
Funding for the smart cars will be provided by Baidu 9888.HK and other investors.
Jidu Auto will target introducing its first electric vehicle in three years.
According to Xia Yiping, the first electric vehicle will be targeted at young customers and will have a robotic look.
Yiping, has been quoted by the publication, as saying: “It will make you feel like it’s a robot that can communicate with you with emotions.”
Jidu Auto will plan to launch a new model every one or one-and-a-half years following its first launch.
The company intends to recruit 2,500-3,000 people during the next two to three years. Out of these, 400-500 will be software engineers.
The electric vehicle manufacturer is also aiming to launch its branding in Q3 2021.
Initially, the company aims to sell its cars directly to customers without involving dealerships.
Jidu Auto will use the open-source electric vehicle platform of Chinese automaker Geely. It plans to produce its cars in Hangzhou Bay in Ningbo, China where Geely already has various plants.
On the other hand, Chinese internet company Baidu is expected to provide chips designed by it for Jidu Auto’s cars.
Baidu’s Kunlun artificial intelligence-powered chips are being used primarily in smart electric vehicles. Last month, Kunlun was reported to have closed a funding round, valuing it at around $2bn.