AutoX
Trimble RTX is the first precise positioning solution providing sub-lane-level accuracy for passenger vehicles on the road today. Credit: Trimble.

Chinese autonomous vehicle start-up AutoX has reportedly commenced testing driverless vehicles in China with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCA) Pacifica minivans.

Alibaba is one of the investors in the start-up, along with Dongfeng Motor Group Co and SAIC Motor.

The technology will be tested with 25 driverless vehicles in Shenzhen and another five in other cities.

Channel News Asia said that the company has modified different vehicles from other vehicle manufacturers and carried out the testing in Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Wuhu in China.

In August, AutoX reportedly launched its self-driving taxi service in Shanghai, China.

In July, AutoX was the second company to test self-driving vehicles without a safety driver in California, US. The first company to do so was Waymo, an Alphabet subsidiary.

In a separate development, Trimble and Sirius XM Connected Vehicles Services announced that the Trimble RTX GNSS corrections are transmitted via the SiriusXM satellite radio network.

This will impact new cars that are sold in the US and Canada featuring the Gen8 satellite chipset from SiriusXM.

This will allow them to receive RTX GNSS corrections, which will facilitate high-accuracy positioning.

SiriusXM Connected Vehicle Services senior vice-president John Jasper said: “We are excited to add Trimble RTX Corrections to our suite of Connected Vehicle Services.

“By delivering this service over our satellite broadcast network, automakers can access relevant location correction data throughout the contiguous US and portions of Canada to facilitate ADAS, AD and V2X applications without the need to access a cellular network.”

In addition, Peachtree Corners has launched a new solar roadway system in the city to provide energy for an EV charging station powered by solar.

The roadway is located in a part of Technology Parkway’s autonomous vehicle test lane and is the result of a tie-up with non-profit living laboratory The Ray.