China's self-driving game plan shuns US partners for Japan

Tie-up prepares for possible restrictions on American tech

20181012N baidu autonomous car AP18185440315015

Chinese internet company Baidu is developing self-driving vehicles through its Apollo program, a research alliance that includes American and Japanese automakers.

SHUNSUKE TABETA and TAKASHI SUGIMOTO, Nikkei staff writers

October 13, 2018 14:44 JST

BEIJING/TOKYO -- The protracted trade standoff with the U.S. has driven China closer to Japan for developing self-driving vehicles, with the possibility of Washington ending technological cooperation figuring into Beijing's calculation.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers signed a memorandum of understanding in Tokyo on Friday to cooperate on setting international standards for self-driving technology. The partnership initially will focus on control mechanisms and telecommunications protocols.