Baidu maps out insurance plans

Baidu Map, a desktop and mobile Web mapping service provided by China's online search giant Baidu Inc, aims to become a major auto insurance seller in the country, said a senior executive on Monday.

Li Dongmin, manager of Baidu Map, said in Beijing that the mapping service will become the main channel for car owners to buy auto insurance, with the firm aiming to cover 30 percent of the market in the coming three years.

"User behavior insurance is emerging in China and we know a lot about car owners' driving preferences. What are their average driving speeds? Do drivers hit the brakes very often? All of this driving behavior can be taken into consideration to find out how much they need to pay for auto insurance," he said, adding that the company will team up with professional insurance companies to roll out such products.