Recent reports have stated that the partnership with German car company BMW and China's search giant Baidu has ended. The two major companies have signed a partnership last year with the focus of developing autonomous cars as a means of public transportation. Baidu, some refer as China's Google were able to complete driverless cars with the use of a BMW 3 Series and was able to successfully hit the streets of Beijing.
The Reason OF The Breakup
BMW China's CEO, Olaf Kastner, stated that there have been disagreements with the two companies that led to the breakup. Kastner said that movements on how to proceed with projects were not at par and that they identified idea differences and development timeline preferences were not the same. No specific details have been issued yet by the CEO and he mentioned that the breakup happen right after the two companies developed an automatic overtaking system that will allow autonomous cars safely pass other vehicles on the road. He stated that the two big companies would not completely split up, as they will still continue working together in the development and creation of high definition maps that will be useful to the autonomous cars navigation system.
Although, some rumors say that BMW wants to bring their self-driving cars to the market by 2021, which is further than what Baidu wants, which is to roll out by an earlier 2018. Baidu may have been a bit ambitious in their timelines as even well-known autonomous carmakers like Tesla has not even come close to perfecting their smart cars. BMW has been known as creators of cars that proudly boasts their German precision and engineering, and was never known to rush into areas that they are not ready to face yet.
Baidu May Be Acting Too Fast, Too Soon
Baidu, initially set their goals to manufacture autonomous vehicles such as self-driving buses to operate publicly in fixed routes or areas. The Chinese search company set the goal to the year 2018 for the buses to be completely operational on Chinese roads. The company is now looking for other companies to tie-up with to continue developing their self-driving technology. Baidu Senior VP Wang Jing said they are now using Ford Lincoln in their testing operations in the United States. Wang said that they are open to partners and are currently in talks with a lot of companies already. Baidu would need to team up with another company if they still want to achieve their timelines in the development of the self-driving cars.
Safety First Is A Must Before Profit
Even if the tie-up between BMW and Baidu has not been successful, both companies will not stop in their search to bring safer and more technologically advanced autonomous cars to the roads. We can only wish, whomever Baidu collaborates with, that they will take as much time needed in their research and development, and put safety first before profit. Regardless of who creates the best smart car, consumers are more than willing to wait for a reliable, safe and technologically advanced self-driving car.
