Core Insights - Didi Autonomous Driving has completed a Series D financing round totaling 2 billion RMB, focusing on AI core algorithm development and L4 autonomous driving application implementation [1] - The investment lineup includes various strategic and industrial capital, indicating a shift from purely financial investments to strategic partnerships in the autonomous driving sector [3][4] Investment and Financing - The recent financing round attracted notable participants such as Zhongguancun Science City Fund and Beijing's two industrial funds, highlighting the elevation of autonomous driving to a strategic level within urban infrastructure [4] - Didi has raised over 10 billion RMB in total for its autonomous driving initiatives, showcasing its commitment to this sector [9] Technological Development - Didi has established a comprehensive technology layout covering the entire chain from vehicle to cloud, leveraging real-time traffic data collected from its ride-hailing services [6][9] - The company has introduced advanced hardware such as the "Beiyue Beta" lidar and the "Orca" computing platform, enhancing its technological capabilities [8] Market Position and Future Outlook - Didi's autonomous driving division is set to launch a new generation of autonomous vehicles in collaboration with GAC Aion by the end of this year, with plans for demonstration applications in major cities [9] - The ultimate goal for Didi is to achieve large-scale operations without safety drivers, which requires addressing stringent technical reliability and regulatory challenges [9]