Audi, Mercedes, VW Begin Testing Autonomous Cars in China

Germany’s Big Three carmakers have quietly launched tests of self-driving cars in China through partnerships with local software suppliers, the Financial Times reports.

Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen face national security policies that bar them from doing their own mapping—including retaining infrastructure images captured by in-car cameras. FT cites a legal expert who explains that such data “needs to be cleaned.”

So, the three carmakers have each agreed to enter into ventures with wholly owned Chinese company for mapping and navigation databases to replace the ones they use elsewhere in the world, FT says.

Consultants point out that such restrictions have no impact on hardware tests. They also say carmakers are eager to jump into the huge Chinese markets and must conduct local testing because China’s traffic conditions are unique.

BMW has been licensed to conduct autonomous-vehicle tests in China since May. Audi and Mercedes began trials earlier this month in Wuxi and Beijing, respectively.

Audi plans to open a formal test facility in Wuxi in 2019, staffed by 150 people. Alexander Pesch, the carmaker’s director of automated driving, says Audi is partnering with China Mobile and Huawei on telematics.