China builds site to test autonomous cars in highway conditions

A fleet of vehicles equipped with Baidu’s autonomous driving technologies conduct road testing in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, China in an undated photo. Courtesy of Baidu/Handout via REUTERS

China is building its first site to test autonomous cars under highway conditions amid a global shift toward technologically advanced and self-driving vehicles. 

State-backed Qilu Transportation Development Group Co is using a section of an existing highway to create the test site in eastern Shandong province, a company spokesman said April 18. Construction on the 26-kilometer-long testing site began April 12, and it is expected to start operating in September.