Formed in March 2021 as a joint venture between Geely and Baidu, Jidu Auto was created to blend automotive manufacturing expertise with artificial intelligence technology. Headquartered in Hangzhou, the company rebranded as Ji Yue in 2023 but retains Baidu’s Apollo autonomous-driving stack. Its first production model, the Jiyue 01 crossover, entered delivery in late 2023, featuring Level 3 autonomous-ready hardware, advanced voice assistants and over-the-air software updates. By September 2024, Jidu had delivered 9,767 units and opened showrooms in Tier 1 cities. Plans for the second model, the Jiyue 07 fastback, include a 600 km electric range and enhanced AI cabin customization, reflecting its “AI Carmaker” positioning.