
Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedes-Benz, has finally received the green light from the Chinese government to test self-driving cars on the roads of its capital city, Beijing. This is the first time that the Chinese government permitted an international automaker to allow public testing of autonomous cars on its roadways, adding to the list of other Chinese companies such as SAIC, NIO, and Baidu.
The request was recently granted after the extensive closed-course testing, which took place at the tarmac of Tempelhof airport in Berlin, Germany. The automated testing was successfully demonstrated using a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. With the help of computer control, the vehicle accurately conquered the pre-programmed track, even with critical maneuvers.

Aside from that, multimodal and data collection of traffic scenes were conducted with the use of Mercedes-Benz S-Class, equipped with camera and lidar technology. The said procedure is part of the cooperative arrangements with Tsinghua University, which intends to further enhance the registration and intention prediction of road users for future use in self-driving cars.
Daimler also pointed out that Beijing would be a great testing area for robot automobiles because of its unique and complex traffic situations. Since the company already has the license to drive around Beijing, the German brand’s Level 4 automated prototype vehicles will then be fitted with Baidu’s Apollo technology - one of China’s tech giants. This agreement aims to further intensify the research cooperation of both countries in the fields of automated driving and intelligent mobility.
In case you’re wondering, Level 4 autonomy means that the autonomous car is capable of handling any driving tasks in certain conditions without a driver. Meanwhile, Daimler is also currently in ties with Bosch Corp. for Level 4 self-driving taxis, which are set to deploy in California’s Silicon Valley region next year.
"Automated and autonomous vehicles need international learning material from actual road traffic in order to understand traffic situations and be prepared for different scenarios. With the second extension of our cooperation as the 'Tsinghua Daimler Joint Research Center for Sustainable Transportation', we and our Chinese partner, the renowned Tsinghua University, are consolidating our local research & development expertise. The approval obtained only a few days ago to operate fully-automated test vehicles on public roads in Peking provides us with another valuable opportunity to drive our development work in this field forward."
Get the best deal - Choose multiple dealerships to compare offers!
You can compare quotations simultaneously from multiple Mercedes-Benz dealerships. Select your preferred dealers from the list below.

- Compare quotations from multiple dealerships in minutes.
- Check vehicle and color availability.
- Find info on special offers and promotions.
- 100% Hassle-free with no obligation to purchase.
Latest News
-
Mitsubishi Philippines to return Ralliart brand as an accessory pack / News
Mitsubishi Philippines wants to bring a little more spice to its model lineup by bringing back the Ralliart brand as an accessory pack.
-
Mitsubishi Philippines introduces the Strada GLS line / News
The Strada GLS line gets a selection of blacked-out elements and 18-inch black alloy wheels.
-
We won best video review and best host award at the 21st Henry Ford Awards / News
We got nominated, and won! Caco drove home with two awards from HFA this year.
Popular Articles
-
Cheapest cars under P700,000 in the Philippines
May 20, 2020
-
First car or next car, the Ford EcoSport is a tough package to beat
Jun 18, 2021
-
Car Maintenance checklist and guide – here’s everything you need to know
Earl Lee · Jan 12, 2021
-
Most fuel efficient family cars in the Philippines
Bryan Aaron Rivera · Nov 27, 2020
-
2021 Geely Okavango — Everything you need to know
Joey Deriquito · Nov 19, 2020
-
Family cars in the Philippines with the biggest trunks
Nov 14, 2018
-
Head to head: Toyota Rush vs. Suzuki XL7
Joey Deriquito · Oct 28, 2020
-
Why oil changes are important for your car
Earl Lee · Nov 10, 2020
-
2021 Kia Stonic — What you need to know about it
Joey Deriquito · Oct 16, 2020
-
Top 7 tips for buying a used car in the Philippines
Joey Deriquito · Nov 26, 2020