SHENZHEN Haylion Technologies Co. signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania Commercial Vehicle AB at Futian District Government on Feb. 2, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of self-driving technology. An autopilot R&D center may settle in Futian Bonded Area in the upcoming future.

The two will team up with Shenzhen Bus Group to develop new technologies related to self-driving in a bid to set up a global, smart-driving commercial vehicle innovation center in Shenzhen, with all three sides offering their knowledge in artificial intelligence and self-driving.

Liu Zhiyong, vice head of Futian District, said at the ceremony that Shenzhen is a demonstration district for self-driving and praised Alphaba Intelligent Driving Public Bus System as a model product of Sino-Swedish cooperation. Liu believed the cooperation this time will further improve technological development and facilitate the commercialization of self-driving technology.

“Scania is a traffic and transportation solution provider in Sweden with a history of more than 120 years. The cooperation aims to solve the shortage of bus drivers and make buses safer and more economical while they are in service,” said Mats Harborn, executive director of Scania China Strategic Center.

On Dec. 2, 2017, four self-driving buses carrying Haylion’s system made their debut on public roads in Futian Bonded Area, marking it the first-ever use of such technology in the world. The tested buses have so far traveled more than 8,000 kilometers and have made great breakthroughs in visual sensing, AI decision-making, planning and execution. (Yang Mei)