Baidu in Microsoft tie-up to boost self-drive tech worldwide

Self-driving car technology has received a major boost from a partnership between China’s web search giant Baidu and Microsoft.

Microsoft Azure is to provide global scale for Baidu’s Apollo self-drive platform outside of China. [File Photo: autohome.com.cn]

Unveiling its Apollo autonomous driving platform back in April, Baidu said it would be available to partners in July 2017.

Earlier this month, the Chinese company further announced that it was working with the US tech giant on its open-source self-driving car platform involving Microsoft’s cloud based ‘Azure’ service.

Now Microsoft has issued a news release giving additional details of the partnership, saying that the two sides would ‘explore opportunities to deliver connected vehicle solutions and unique customer experiences that aim to digitally transform the autonomous driving industry.’

US Tech-giant Microsoft [File Photo: IC]

It’s reported that Microsoft has already been working with auto giants such as Renault-Nissan, Daimler, Ford, Toyota and Volvo, to gather huge amounts of sensor and usage data from connected vehicles and to use that data in a practical way using cloud technology.

Global leading management consultancy firm, McKinsey & Company, has predicted that by 2030, around 15 percent of all new cars sold will be fully autonomous.