A delegation from the Saudi Audit Bureau, the International Department of the National Audit Office, and the Beijing Municipal Audit Bureau recently visited Beijing E-Town to investigate the forefront practices of the intelligent connected vehicle industry. 

The delegation toured the Innovation Operation Center of Beijing's High-level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area, and had the opportunity to ride and experience Robotaxis and intelligent connected passenger buses, immersing themselves in the world of autonomous driving.

The delegation visits the Innovation Operation Center of Beijing's High-level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area. [Photo/beijingetown.com.cn]

The idea for this research trip, which focused on experiencing innovative achievements in autonomous driving, was proposed by the Saudi Audit Bureau delegation. 

Through on-site explanations and diverse displays, such as videos, sand tables, and models, the Saudi Audit Bureau delegation gained a detailed understanding of E-Town practices in autonomous driving. 

In September 2020, Beijing initiated the construction of the world's first high-level autonomous driving demonstration area, with Beijing E-Town at its core. 

The project, based on the construction of five systems: "smart roads, intelligent vehicles, real-time cloud, reliable network, and accurate maps," delves into the technical path of integrated vehicle-road-cloud, creating a city-level experimental platform. 

At present, the demonstration area has achieved full coverage of 160 square kilometers of intelligent connected roads and a dedicated smart city network. 

It has pioneered the opening of commercial pilot services, such as autonomous driving travel, maintaining a leading position in supporting policies, open testing roads, supervision and management. 

Notably, the area has started testing intelligent connected passenger vehicles from Beijing E-Town to Daxing Airport.

"Very impressive" and "worth promoting" were the sentiments expressed by the Saudi Audit Bureau delegation during their test ride experience. 

They boarded Robotaxis, clicked "start journey" on the screen, and their autonomous city tour began. 

Throughout the journey, the Robotaxi automatically completed operations such as driving in a straight line, turning, lane changing, and passing through traffic lights based on road conditions, providing a smooth and seamless riding experience. 

Upon their return, they also took a ride on an intelligent connected passenger bus.

According to publicly available information, in October 2023, Pony.ai, an enterprise in Beijing E-Town, received a $100 million investment from NEOM, Saudi Arabia's futuristic giga city.

Meanwhile, Pony.ai and NEOM plan to establish a joint venture in a future city in the northwest of Saudi Arabia to provide autonomous driving technology solutions for the region. 

This research visit is expected to further promote exchanges and cooperation between Beijing E-Town and Saudi Arabia.