Shanghai (ZXZC)- Changan Automobile and Baidu signed a strategic cooperation agreement on August 23 to jointly develop autonomous vehicles and IoV (Internet of Vehicles) businesses, according to local media.

Under the newly-signed agreement, both parties will carry out cooperation to gradually realize the application of autonomous vehicles and integrate IoV businesses. To be specific, the cooperation, focusing on the whole technology chain of autonomous driving, cybersecurity and functional security as well as IoV, will allow two companies to implement pre-research projects, develop technologies for mass production and determine the concrete technical solutions in relevant cooperative domains.

Besides, the Chongqing-based automaker and the Internet giant will explore strategic collaboration in such areas as NEV (new energy vehicle) and mobility based on respective strategy and business development needs, so as to elevate each other's brand influences in corresponding fields.

Changan Automobile forged a partnership with Baidu as early as March 2016, becoming the Internet titan's first automaker strategic partner. Last year, they cemented the cooperation in intelligent mobility and R&D of autonomous vehicle volume production. Meanwhile, Changan Automobile has also joined Baidu's Apollo autonomous driving platform. Currently, the L3 autonomous vehicles co-developed by Apollo and the automaker have been handed over and passed the acceptance check early this year.