Chongqing to launch 5G-based self-driving pilot zone

CHONGQING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality will launch a pilot zone for 5G-based autonomous driving in late August, the China Autonomous Technology & Research Center, a co-founder of the zone, announced Tuesday.

The pilot zone, equipped with Level 4 (L4) self-driving capabilities, includes a closed test area covering over 470,000 square meters and allows six application scenarios including pre-warning of dangerous traffic situations, downloading of high-precision maps, 5G-based live streaming and remote control of vehicles.

The research center, the Chongqing branch of China Telecom and DT Mobile jointly started 5G-related cooperation earlier this year.

The applications of 5G-based remote control of vehicles and intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) road tests have been initiated in the zone since May.

The Chongqing-based Changan Automobile will begin its L4 self-driving tests in the zone after it opens, said Liang Fenghua with Changan.

China allowed local governments to arrange road tests for ICVs in April 2018. An increasing number of cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing, have issued license plates for ICV road tests.