Chinese automotive giant Geely Holding Group announced on Saturday the successful launch of 11 low-earth orbit satellites, marking its second deployment. The initiative is part of Geely’s strategy to enhance navigation precision for autonomous vehicles. The satellites took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, with Geely projecting a total of 72 in orbit by 2025, ultimately aiming for a constellation of 240. The first launch occurred in June 2022.
Aside from supporting self-driving cars with high-precision positioning, Geely’s satellite network will also serve various commercial purposes, including connectivity in the consumer electronics sector. The satellites boast AI remote sensing capabilities, providing clear high-resolution imaging with a range of 1-5 meters.
In a landscape traditionally dominated by the military, China’s foray into private investment in the space industry since 2014 has led to an influx of commercial entities, often supported by local governments. The country’s latest five-year plan (2021-2025) emphasizes the establishment of an integrated satellite network for communication, remote sensing, and navigation. China currently has over 400 satellites in space, encompassing both government and commercially owned satellites.
