Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On August 27, Great Wall Motor (GWM) and Baidu announced their newly-built partnership at the launching ceremony of the WEY VV6. Based on Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving platform, both parties will deepen their cooperation in high-definition map (HD map) and autonomous vehicle.

Meanwhile, GWM designated the Internet giant as WEY's official partner focusing on offering HD map and self-positioning technologies, which made Baidu become China's first map provider that substantially realizes the commercial volume production of L3 autonomous driving HD map.

Baidu also invited WEY brand to join its Apollo open vehicle certification platform, which allows the Hebei-based automaker to gradually open up its car hardware systems including fossil fuel-powered vehicle and electric vehicle (EV).

Moreover, the first batch of WEY VV6 cars was officially delivered at the launching ceremony for Baidu's autonomous vehicle tests. Besides, the autonomous car co-developed by both parties will be commercially mass produced in the fourth quarter of 2020.

GWM and Baidu started collaboration in self-position technology for HD map as early as 2016. In July 2017, GWM teamed up with Baidu's Apollo platform as one of the early strategic partners. Then in April this year, both companies inked an MoU (Momorandum of Understanding) at the Boao Forum for Asia to further improve their partnership in autonomous driving field.