On Wednesday, China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group launched nine satellites into low earth orbit as part of a plan to build out a satellite network to enable more accurate navigation for driverless vehicles.
The GeeSAT-1 satellites, which were self-designed and constructed, were launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan’s southwestern province. By 2025, Geely expects another 63 to be in orbit, with a total constellation of 240 planned.
Geely becomes the second major carmaker to have an affiliated space company with the launch. Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) owns SpaceX, which has over 2,000 satellites in space for its Starlink network, which provides commercial internet services. Starlink intends to launch a 4,408-satellite first-generation network.
While SpaceX launches its satellites with its own rockets, Geely launched the nine with a Long March 2C rocket created and operated by a Chinese state-owned company.
Geely claimed the network will serve additional commercial tasks, such as providing communication services for the Asian Games in September, in addition to providing high-precision positioning support to self-driving cars. The satellites have a five-year operational lifespan and will disintegrate in the earth’s atmosphere without leaving any space trash, according to the corporation.
