Valeo plans to invest in DiDi Autonomous Driving, and together they will develop intelligent safety solutions for L4 robotaxis. The partnership aims to provide passengers with safe, reliable, comfortable, and cost-effective autonomous driving services. One of the key initiatives is the establishment of a joint research and development team focused on safety systems for L4 robotaxis.
To enhance user safety, Valeo and DiDi Autonomous Driving will augment the main autonomous navigation system with an additional set of hardware and software called the Automated Safety Pilot. This redundant system will address sudden failures and incorporate customised safety features for specific operational scenarios.
The intelligent safety solution will be capable of taking control of the robotaxi to ensure passenger and road user safety. Initially, this customised safety solution will be deployed in DiDi Autonomous Driving’s L4 Robotaxis.
Geoffrey Bouquot, Executive Vice President Strategy and CTO, Valeo, stated that Valeo has been a leader in developing technologies for L4 autonomous driving. He acknowledged DiDi Autonomous Driving’s strong focus on shared mobility and their expertise in technology R&D and operations. Bouquot expressed pride in signing an agreement to invest in DiDi Autonomous Driving, aiming to collaborate on safety solutions and further Valeo’s commitment to smart, safe, and affordable mobility.
Meng Xing, COO, DiDi Autonomous Driving, declared their complete dedication to prioritising safety in their mass production and commercialisation plan. Xing recognised Valeo’s century-long history of innovation and their extensive experience in mass producing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving Systems (ADS). The strategic partnership with Valeo was seen as an opportunity to standardise and scale key modules of autonomous driving systems, enhance overall system safety for L4 Robotaxis, and provide passengers with high-quality driverless mobility services. Their joint objective is to accelerate the commercialisation of autonomous driving technology.