Chinese vehicle manufacturer, BAIC Group, is planning to launch their first ever autonomous vehicles this year and while the idea of autonomous vehicles is one that seems far out for the South African market the manufacturer believes Port Elizabeth could be the continents next testing ground.

BAIC South African SBU, Tao Li, says the Beijing Electric Vehicle Company or BJEV, the electric vehicle unit of BAIC Group, will test its autonomous vehicles in a few months to come in Beijing.

According to Li it will still be a few years before autonomous vehicle technology diffuses into the South African mainstream and for adoption to take place but BAIC SA’s familial ties with BJEV will open a world of new possibilities and partnerships instantly test the viability of this technology for South Africa.

Anything is possible

“The South African motoring industry has taken a cautionary and slightly sceptical approach around autonomous vehicles citing poor road South African infrastructure as a barrier for entry. We, on the other hand, are optimistic and believe anything is possibility in the near future,” she notes.

“There is nothing stopping us from piloting autonomous vehicles in the mid-size city of Port Elizabeth where the BAIC manufacturing plant is currently under construction. Nelson Mandela Bay can in fact be a learning laboratory for the African autonomous vehicle universe,” she explains.

The plant, situated in the Coega Special Economic Zone, is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2018. It will focus on assembly of conventional fuel vehicles for the BAIC vehicle model line, the D20 hatch back/sedan and the X25 SUV.