German automaker BMW Group is set to accelerate its autonomous driving technology development in China with the launch of new facilities at its research and development center in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province.
Scheduled for September and December respectively, the Shenyang R&D center will unveil an autonomous driving data processing center and an autonomous driving test workshop. The data processing center aims to enhance the processing of autonomous driving test data, while the test workshop will focus on validating autonomous driving functions for new local models.
BMW’s Chinese R&D team is poised to expand the possibilities and boundaries of autonomous driving technology, striving towards higher levels of autonomy. Patrick Mueller, Vice President of the BMW Brilliance R&D Center, emphasized the company’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Shenyang in areas such as vehicle testing, information sharing, and the formulation of autonomous driving policies and regulations.
The Shenyang facility, combining both R&D and production, stands as BMW’s largest production base worldwide and a pivotal hub for new energy vehicles. With additional R&D centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, BMW boasts the largest R&D network in China outside Germany. The Shenyang R&D center particularly focuses on the integration and validation of electric mobility technologies and intelligent connected vehicles.
BMW’s expanded efforts in China highlight the significance of the Chinese market in the global push towards autonomous driving and electric mobility. By investing in local R&D and collaborating closely with regional authorities, BMW aims to foster innovation and lead the advancement of next-generation automotive technologies in one of the world’s most dynamic automotive markets.
