After a ban on the US market, Chinese companies developing autonomous driving systems have refocused on Europe. They are already setting up headquarters, signing agreements and testing their technologies in the region, Reuters reports.
In China, the world's largest auto market, more than half of all cars sold are equipped with autonomous driving systems, and the government in Beijing is now pushing for Chinese companies to also take the lead in global markets.
Dong Li, chief technology officer of QCraft, a company that develops autopilot systems, has announced plans for a new headquarters in Germany. He explains the decision by saying that there are barriers to entry in the US market, including national security concerns over the data such systems collect.
Europe was chosen because of its more open regulatory environment, although driver assistance systems are currently only available in some luxury models. Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a joint continental effort to develop autonomous cars, as they are already operating in the United States and China.
Another Chinese self-driving company, Deeproute.ai, plans to build a data center in Europe after concluding deals currently under discussion with Chinese and European automakers. Another Chinese autonomous technology developer, Momenta, has partnered with Uber to begin testing Level 4 technology in Germany next year.
Meanwhile, European self-driving car developers are seeking a level playing field. Some companies are asking for subsidies and protection from imports, while others believe that competing with China will accelerate Europe's development. Jim Hutchinson, CEO of British startup Fusion Processing, which plans to test Level 4 self-driving buses next year, is pushing for tighter oversight because of national security and competition concerns.