Xiamen-based King Long auto company signed a cooperation agreement with China's internet giant Baidu on Oct 17, to put driverless buses into mass production and trial by July 2018.

The buses will be used to transport Xiamen residents the on-average last kilometer of their commutes where standard public transport is unavailable.

Baidu's Apollo platform will be used as the bus's central brain, controlling the self-driving process. The internet giant will also contribute to the overall design of the vehicle including its appearance and structure.

The driverless bus will be able to make informed decisions, ease traffic congestion, save travel time, and reduce traffic accidents.

Lu Qi, president and CEO of Baidu, said, "The cooperation between Baidu and King Long enjoys great advantages in artificial intelligence and vehicle manufacture, which will lead to rich commercial value and ease the long-lasting traffic problems in China."

Xie Siyu, president of Xiamen King Long United Automotive, said that the two sides' cooperation advances the public travel vision of safety, convenience and orderliness and brings automatic driving technology ever closer.

With an intelligent brain, the driverless bus can make informed decisions, ease traffic congestion, save travel times, and reduce traffic accidents. [Photo/ chinaz.com]