Didi taps Valeo to develop safety technology for L4 robotaxis

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi will join hands with French supplier Valeo to develop intelligent safety technology for Level 4 robotaxis. 

Under a deal the two companies signed this week, Valeo will invest in Didi’s  autonomous driving arm and collaborate with the unit to develop the safety technology, Didi said. 

A key part of the technology is a set of “cost effective” hardware and software known as the Automated Safety Pilot, which will complement the main navigation system of an L4 robotaxi. 

The Automated Safety Pilot will be able to take over and control the robotaxi when its main navigation system encounters a sudden failure. Didi didn’t disclose the investment Valeo will make in its autonomous driving unit.

Didi is accelerating efforts to develop and commercialize robotaxis this year. 

In April, it announced a plan to introduce the first mass-produced robotaxi under its ride-hailing platform in 2025.

On May 10, it signed GAC AION New Energy Automobile Co., the electric-vehicle subsidiary of GAC Motor Co., to mass produce its L4 robotaxis.