(Yicai) Oct. 14 -- Didi Autonomous Driving has secured CNY2 billion (USD281 million) and said the unit of Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing will use the funds to bolster research on artificial intelligence and speed up the deployment of Level-4 self-driving technology.

Investors in the Series D fundraiser included Zhongguancun Science City Technology Growth Fund, Beijing Information Industry Development Investment Fund, Beijing Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund, and Guangzhou Automobile Group, Didi Autonomous announced on Oct. 11. Its parent firm company also took part.

L4 autonomous driving will be one of the most transformative technologies over the coming decade of the AI era, with the potential to greatly improve transport safety, efficiency, and overall user experience, said Zhang Bo, Didi co-founder and chief executive of Didi Autonomous.

Didi Autonomous has begun full-scenario and fully driverless trials in Beijing and Guangzhou this year. Its self-driving vehicles have held up reliably under demanding conditions, during rush hours, late at night, and in sudden rain.

The next-generation pre-installed self-driving vehicles jointly developed by Didi Autonomous and GAC Aion, the new energy vehicle unit of Guangzhou Automobile, are scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year, with pilot operations to be launched in Beijing, Guangzhou, and other cities.

The carmaker invested in Didi Autonomous in 2023 to accelerate L4 self-driving tech development and production. GAC Aion allied with Didi to set up a 50-50 joint venture last year. 

Editor: Martin Kadiev