AI company Baidu, Inc. announced it obtained licensing for commercial operation of its fully driverless ride-hailing service in Shenzhen. Baidu robotaxis are now authorized to provide ride-hailing service with no safety operator present in the car, making Shenzhen the fourth city in China where such service is available, following Wuhan, Chongqing and Beijing, the company says.
With this new license, Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis will be allowed to operate across an area of 188 square kilometers in Shenzhen from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, catering to both morning and evening commuters, Baidu says. Users can conveniently access the service by using the Apollo Go app or mini-program, as well as Baidu Maps, Baidu App, and other platforms.
This expansion significantly broadens the scope of Baidu’s commercial fully driverless ride-hailing service operations nationwide, which is says paves the way for future expansion to paying users across China.
The approval of Apollo Go’s commercial fully driverless operations in Shenzhen reflects the city’s longstanding position at the forefront of the intelligent connected vehicle industry. “Apollo Go’s expansion in Shenzhen is set to further stimulate this vibrant and innovative sector and build a stronger local industry ecosystem,” Baidu says.
