Two self driving cars have wrapped up a 2 000km journey in China’s first long distance road test for autonomous vehicles.
The vehicles, produced by Chang’an Automobile, left the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing last Tuesday and arrived at Beijing at about 17h00 on Saturday.
The cars successfully kept the correct following distances, changed lanes, overtook and performed other manoeuvres, including three point turns, but the cars still need the help of a driver in certain road sections and at fuel stations, the designers said.
The maximum speed of the cars reached 120km/h.
Chang’an’s Tan Benhong said the company would use the insights gained in the 2 000km test to improve its autonomous technologies in preparation for eventual mass production.
Chang’an plans to put driverless cars into commercial use in 2018, Tan said.
Worldwide, at least 18 companies are known to be developing autonomous cars.
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