Jiading district is planning to build an innovation center of automobile industry that focuses on new energy vehicles and smart cars industry.
The innovation center will also focus on developing the Internet of Vehicles and telematics, said Sun Wei, the deputy district chief, at the 2015 China Auto Forum on April 21.
Based on cloud computing and big data technology, Internet-connected cars are seen as the foundation for smart transportation and eventually, advanced self-driving cars.
Telematics involves in-car drivers' service systems including navigation, security, interaction and other services. Statistics from the Global System for Mobile Communications Assembly showed the Chinese market alone for telematics is expected to reach 500 billion yuan ($80 billion) by 2016.
Jiading positioned itself as an international electric vehicle (EV) pilot zone in 2011 and has built an EV test drive center. So far, the district has built 50 rental spots involving more than 200 EVs, according to Sun.
And the EV rental project will expand to other districts, involving a total of 350 rental spots and 1,000 EVs around the city.
In addition, Jiading intends to build the nation’s first smart car pilot zone, which will develop technologies on connecting automobiles, road information, drivers and homes and explore stipulation of laws and regulations on self-driving and unmanned-driving.