Bosch to Partner on Precision Maps for Automated Driving in China

By Monica Houston-Waesch

FRANKFURT--Germany's Robert Bosch GmbH on Wednesday said it will partner with internet group Baidu Inc. (BIDU) and others on high-precision maps for automated driving in China.

Baidu and map providers AutoNavi and NavInfo Co. Ltd. (002405.SZ) will use information collected by Bosch's radar and video sensors in vehicles to generate and update maps. The four parties aim to present map solutions by the end of the year.

"Automated driving will not be possible without high-precision maps--not in China and not anywhere else in the world either," Bosch board member Rolf Bulander said in a press statement.

Bosch, an automobile industry supplier and technology group, is also testing automatic driving projects in Germany, the U.S. and Japan, making China its fourth location.

"As the world's largest automotive market and with roughly 28 million vehicles now being produced annually, China is also an important sales market for automated driving technologies," the company said.

Bosch's sales of mobility technology and services in China came to 9 billion euros ($9.57 billion) last year, accounting for 20% of all sales in the mobility solutions sector, the company said. Bosch employs over 34,000 mobility solutions employees in China at 21 manufacturing sites.

Write to Monica Houston-Waesch at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 19, 2017 02:30 ET (06:30 GMT)

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