Impressive Advancement of Baidu in the Field of Autonomous Cars
Introduction of a New Generation
While Tesla continues to develop its Robotaxi, Baidu, the Chinese giant, stands out with the introduction of the latest generation of its autonomous car, reaching level 4. For years, car manufacturers have been engaged in intense competition, particularly in the field of autonomous driving technologies.
Baidu: A Worthy Challenger
Baidu, often compared to Google in China for its very popular search engine, is also investing in the automotive industry. In 2022, they presented their first autonomous taxi, a minivan reminiscent of the Zeekr 009 and the Denza D9. This vehicle allowed Baidu to outpace Tesla in the autonomous car race.
Presentation of the Apollo RT6
The latest version, named Apollo RT6, was unveiled at the Apollo Day event. Aesthetically, the vehicle retains its imposing design with a distinctive light signature. Measuring 4.77 meters long, 1.89 meters wide, and 1.72 meters high, it offers a generous interior space, comfortably accommodating four people.
Interior and Technical Features
Inside, the Apollo RT6 features a modern design with a large central touch screen. The seats are heated and massaging, with electric adjustments. Although some images show a retractable steering wheel, it is not yet available in the current version. However, the vehicle has level 4 autonomy thanks to its five LiDAR sensors and a total of 40 sensors.
Power and Performance
The Baidu Apollo RT6 is equipped with an electric motor of 110 kW (about 150 horsepower) provided by BYD. Its top speed is 135 km/h. Although the battery capacity and range have not been disclosed, the impressive computing power of 1200 TOPS allows the vehicle to surpass its Chinese competitors like Xpeng and Li Auto.
Future Deployment of the Apollo RT6
Baidu plans to deploy 1,000 of these robotaxis in the streets of Wuhan by the end of the year, thanks to a competitive price starting from 204,600 yuan (about 26,101 euros), lower than that of the new Xiaomi SU7. This attractive price could facilitate widespread adoption and potentially an expansion into the European market.
