On April 12, 2016, a Changan Raeton sedan began an autonomous demonstration drive. This driverless test drive departed Changan's General Research Institute in Chongqing, China and concluded in Beijing. At the journey's completion on April 17th, the autonomous car had covered over 2,000 kilometers. This road demonstration made Changan the first Chinese automaker to have developed and tested an autonomous vehicle on a long distance drive.
This Raeton test vehicle demonstrated Changan's strength and leadership among Chinese OEMs in developing autonomous technology. The project's success signifies a technological leap from the traditional automobile to the smart vehicle.
During the test drive, the Raeton was able to maintain single lane autonomous driving, utilize adaptive cruise control, and maneuver through traffic jams. The autonomous Raeton can also pass slower traffic (as requested by driver), and is also able to identify posted speed limits on road signs. The car accomplishes these tasks by reading the driving environment via a high-precision combination of radar tracking, artificial intelligence, and camera-based imaging technologies. The road test from Chongqing to Beijing was not only a test of the major functions of the Raeton's semi-autonomous vehicle technologies, it was also a valuable laboratory for Changan's advanced engineering teams.
To ensure long-term leadership in the connected and autonomous vehicle sphere, Changan will integrate its resources to create a global autonomous vehicle R&D system. An autonomous vehicle technology R&D center has already been established at the General Research Institute in China, along with an autonomous driving department at Changan's US R&D Center. The company is also setting up an office in California's Silicon Valley and establishing a software development center in India. Each of these locations will develop key hardware and software technologies related to connected and autonomous vehicles.
As a result of progress in autonomous vehicle technologies, Changan is able to offer smart features on currently available vehicles. The Raeton sedan and CS75 SUV offer panoramic camera views of the vehicle's surroundings when parking, warning guides when changing lanes, and lane departure warnings for when you intend to hold your lane. These features are designed to enhance safety and the overall driving experience. Changan expects make more smart componentry available on select vehicles by 2018.
Changan has entered a period of rapid technological innovation and market expansion. The company has sold more than 10 million vehicles over its history, and last year became the first Chinese automaker to produce and sell 1 million domestic Chinese branded vehicles within a single year.
Changan is committed to offering environmentally friendly, technologically advanced, affordable, stylish, and safe vehicles along with exceptional service.
11 May 2016
