Chinese internet search heavyweight Baidu has debuted a limited-edition electric vehicle equipped with autonomous driving features.
The Robo-01 Lunar Edition is priced at 399,800 yuan ($55,300). Baidu’s EV joint venture has already received 1,000 orders and is making an additional 1,000 units available, with deliveries slated for next year.
The EV was on display at an Shanghai event Thursday that drew more than 300 people, including those from several media outlets seeing the vehicle for the first time.
Jidu Auto, Baidu’s joint venture with Chinese private-sector automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, developed and produced the Robo-01 Lunar Edition. The vehicle is branded in a cooperation arrangement with China’s lunar exploration program.
Jidu approached famous authors and other high-profile clients starting in late September about buying the Robo-01. Having received 1,000 preorders, Jidu decided to make the model available for consumer purchases on a limited basis.
The Robo-01 comes with semiconductors made by U.S. suppliers Qualcomm and Nvidia that will elevate self-driving performance, Jidu CEO Xia Yiping said. The limited-edition EV will receive free charging and maintenance for the lifetime of the vehicles, the company said.
