SAIC Motor, the largest auto company on China’s A-share market, is building the world’s first 5G-enabled car and is aiming for official release in April next year, said a company executive.
“The ultimate goal is to make cars part of the Internet, or to make cars part of the Internet of Things,” SAIC Motors deputy chief engineer Zu Sijie said at a recent event held by Chinese paper the Securities Times.
Zu added SAIC Motor is making cars supported by the Internet and their subsidiary the Banma Network Technology is becoming the leading player in the field.
SAIC Motor is aggressive in deploying technology in their products as China 5G is on the fast track. The 5G-enabled car vision is the company's latest vision.
In June last year, the company launched its own AI lab, which is the first domestic automaker to establish an AI lab.
The new lab focuses on research and development, as well as real-world AI solutions in three fundamental areas—cloud computing, big data and business applications—with the ambition to push forward smart transport, smart manufacturing, and intelligent driving.
Last month, the company exhibited a demo vehicle of a 5G-enabled intelligent heavy truck.
“SAIC has produced 20 such intelligent heavy trucks so far this year, and kicked off closed road tests in late June,” said Cheng Yisong, project manager from SAIC.
