Is Baidu A New Threat To Automakers?

is one of China's most important eCommerce companies through its Chinese-language search platform that commands an 80 percent market share. So why is it now a competitive threat to global automakers? Baidu's Senior Vice President Wang Jing said on Friday that his company has plans to mass produce a driverless car within 5 years from now. In fact, the company is already testing its driverless cars in public roads in Beijing and Wuhu and in a closed testing area in Shanghai.

Converge technology conference, Baidu's executive also said that its driverless cars will be tested in additional cities across China to better adapt to weather, road and traffic conditions ahead of its launch in 5 years. However, Jing suggested that the driverless car market will be big enough for all involved, including Google and its parent company

. Meanwhile, the company is open to partnerships with US entities including Uber. "The market right now is very early so it's big enough for many players," he said. "I don't think anyone can dominate this area." Investors could debate for ages the merits of driverless cars and its impact on the environment. It does seem that based on Jing's comments, the future of automotive is indeed heading in that direction even if "it won't happen overnight."