Jidu Auto is a joint venture premium intelligent EV startup between Chinese tech giant Baidu and car manufacturer Geely. It is headquartered in Shanghai, China. Jidu Auto was founded in March 2021 as a technology AI company that focus on the development of advance intelligence and autonomous electric vehicles.[1]
History
Originally founded in March 2021 with an investment of $300 million,[2] Jidu Auto completed a $400 million Series A financing in January 2022 from Baidu and Geely,[3][4][5]
On December 7, 2022, Jidu Auto changed its legal name to Shanghai Mihang Automobile Co., Ltd.[6]
On February 15, 2023, Jidu Auto announced that the firm would use Baidu's self-developed Ernie bot Artificial intelligence in its production cars as the first company to provide an interactive experience with artificial intelligence in production vehicles.[7][8]
Relation with Ji Yue brand
Ji Yue (极越) brand was established in August 2023,[9] a second company between Geely and Baidu to reconstruct the partnership between the two companies.[10][11] The Ji Yue brand is 65% owned by Geely and 35% by Baidu which makes Ji Yue brand a subsidiary under Geely Group rather than a joint venture company like Jidu. Due to the Chinese government's policies, Baidu, as the controlling company of Jidu, cannot obtain the qualification to manufacture cars. The purpose of establishing Ji Yue was to make Geely the controlling company in order to sidestep the restriction of car manufacture qualification. Jidu Auto now operates as a technology solution company that focuses on product design, product engineering, as well as development of AI driving and advanced user interface technology for all Ji Yue vehicles.
With the new Ji Yue brand, the previous Jidu Robo-01 was renamed as Ji Yue 01. The Ji Yue brand inherited the brand logo created by Jidu Auto.[12][13]
Products
Current Ji Yue vehicles are manufactured and assembled at Hangzhou Bay in Ningbo, where Geely's headquarter and several Geely plants are located.[14]
See also
- Automobile manufacturers and brands of China
- List of automobile manufacturers of China
External links
References
- Jidu Auto to invest billions in electrification by 2026 electrive.com, 2021-04-27, retrieved 2021-09-24^
- Baidu's electric car brand Jidu closes $400M Series A round techcrunch.com, January 26, 2022^
- Jidu Auto steps up to roll out mass-produced robocars chinadaily.com.cn, June 8, 2022^
- Will Knight. China's Jidu Robo-1 Looks Like It's From the Future. Maybe It Is Wired, wired.com, June 8, 2022^
- Why Do We Think JIDU is a "Bad Business" equalocean.com, July 13, 2022^
- Baidu's Jidu Automobile Has A New Name carnewschina.com, December 7, 2022^
- Jidu Auto to Provide World's First AI Chatbot Experience in Smart Cars yicaiglobal.com, February 15, 2023^
- Evelyn Cheng. Chinese EV startup Jidu plans to use ChatGPT-like tech CNBC, February 14, 2023^
- 极越 www.jiyue-auto.com, retrieved 2023-09-03^
- 马清. Geely, Baidu unveil new car brand Ji Yue www.chinadaily.com.cn, retrieved 2023-08-25^
- JI YUE – Zhejiang Geely Holding Group retrieved 2023-08-25^
- 百度吉利合作造车"集度"之后添"极越" 二者有何不同？ www.chinaventure.com.cn, retrieved 2023-08-25^
- Geely, Baidu Hitch Up on New EV Brand - Caixin Global www.caixinglobal.com, retrieved 2023-08-25^
- Yingzhi Yang, Alessandro Diviggiano. Baidu's electric vehicle firm Jidu unveils first 'robot' car Reuters, June 8, 2022^