VW Joins Baidu’s Apollo Software Group

Volkswagen AG is the latest carmaker to use the open-source Apollo Project software platform led by China’s Baidu Inc. to develop its own self-driving cars.

The announcement came two days after Volvo Car Corp. and Baidu agreed to jointly develop self-driving electric taxis for the Chinese market. The Apollo Project has attracted more than 100 carmakers and suppliers as partners.

VW says it will gain a seat on Apollo’s board. The consortium was founded early last year by Baidu as a way to marry its software with hardware made by its members. The approach also enables the operating system to quickly amass on-the-road test data generated by multiple consortium members.