Jidu Auto is a joint venture between Chinese car company Geely and Baidu. Jidu Auto was founded in March 2021 as an intelligent electric vehicle company mainly focused on the development of electric vehicles and intends to release a full portfolio of electric vehicles in different segments starting in 2022.
History
Originally founded in March 2021 with an investment of $300 million, Jidu Auto completed a $400 million Series A financing in January 2022 from Baidu and Geely,
On December 7th 2022, Jidu Auto changed its legal name to Shanghai Mihang Automobile Co., Ltd.
On February 15, 2023, Jidu Auto announced that the firm would use Baidu’s self-developed Ernie bot Artificial intelligence in its production cars as the first company to provide an interactive experience with artificial intelligence in production vehicles.
Relation with Ji Yue brand
Ji Yue (极越) brand was established in August 2023, a second company between Geely and Baidu to reconstruct the partnership between the two companies. The Ji Yue brand is 65% owned by Geely and 35% by Baidu which makes Ji Yue brand a subsidiary under Geely Group rather than a joint venture company like Jidu. Due to the Chinese government's policies, Baidu as the controlling company of Jidu, cannot obtain the qualification to manufacture cars. The purpose of establishment of Ji Yue was to turn Geely as the controlling company to solve the restriction of car manufacture qualification. The Jidu Auto become a technology solution company to develop AI driving technology and will not be an independent car marque.
With the new Ji Yue brand, the previous Jidu ROBO-01 was renamed as Ji Yue 01. The Ji Yue brand inherited the brand logo created by Jidu Auto.
Vehicles
The Jidu Auto vehicles will be manufactured in Hangzhou Bay in Ningbo, where Geely's headquarter and several Geely plants are located.
Ji Yue 01 – all electric midsize crossover. Ji Yue 02 – all electric midsize sedan.
Concept
Jidu Robo-01 Concept (2022) Jidu Robo-02 Concept (2022)
References
External links
Official website (in Chinese)