Qiming has invested $30m in Huimei Technology, a Chinese medical AI solutions player, while AutoX and Shanghai authorities have announced a partnership to pilot the real-world use case of the country’s driverless future.
Qiming invests $30m in Huimei Technology
Huimei Technology, a Chinese artificial intelligence (AI)-powered medical solutions provider, has raised $30 million in a Series C round of financing led by venture capital firm Qiming Venture Partners, according to an announcement.
Chinese pharmaceutical and medical device firm WuXi AppTec and Huimei Capital, the investment unit of Huimei Healthcare Group, also participated in this round.
Huimei Technology is a division of Huimei Healthcare Management Services, which was established in 2015 by Hillhouse Capital and US-based non-profit medical group Mayo Clinic.
Qiming Venture Partners in February was seeking to raise $250 million for its second US healthcare fund, according to its SEC filing.
In April last year, Qiming announced the close of its first US healthcare fund at $120 million, along with the $935 million US-dominated Fund VI and 2.1 billion Chinese yuan-dominated ($313.4 million) Fund V.
AutoX to launch 100 robo-taxis in Shanghai
California and Hong Kong-based autonomous driving startup AutoX and Shanghai authorities have announced a partnership for a robo-taxi pilot, local media reported.
AutoX will deploy 100 autonomous vehicles in a pilot area of 150 sq km in Anting Town, which takes up nearly a third of Shanghai’s northwestern Jiading district.
AutoX was founded in 2016 in Silicon Valley by Xiao Jianxiong, a former Princeton University assistant professor. The company earlier partnered with NEVS — the Swedish holding company and electric vehicle manufacturer to deploy a robo-taxi pilot service in Europe by the end of 2020.
AutoX also plans to set up its regional headquarters in Jiading and expects the driverless taxi service to be available to residents as early as the end of this year.
The California and Hong Kong-based AV startup has been testing its vehicles in more than 10 locations worldwide, including San Jose in Silicon Valley and the Nanshan district of Shenzhen, located in southern Guangdong Province.
Meanwhile, Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing also announced plans to launch a robo-taxi service in Shanghai where users will be able to hail driverless cars from the app. The ride-hailing company will deploy 30 different models of so-called level four autonomous vehicles in the Jiading District of Shanghai, CNBC reported.