The Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely announced on Saturday that it has launched 11 satellites into low Earth orbit, marking its second launch, as part of its efforts to enhance its capability in providing more accurate navigation for self-driving cars.
In a statement, Jielie said that the satellites were launched from the Chitchang Satellite Launch Center in the Sichuan province in southwest China.
The company stated that it expects to have 72 satellites in orbit by 2025 and ultimately plans to have a constellation of 240 satellites.
In addition to providing high-precision location support for self-driving cars, Geely said its network will also serve other commercial functions such as connecting to the consumer electronics sector.
The Chinese army dominates satellite networks, but the government has started allowing private investment in the country’s space sector since 2014.
Since then, commercial companies, some of which are supported by local governments, have entered this sector, with the majority focusing on manufacturing satellites.
The rest tries to build small launching vehicles, including reusable rockets.
