Beijing Issues First Fully Driverless Robotaxi Testing Permits to Baidu and Pony.ai
Beijing grants Baidu and Pony.ai the first permits in China to test fully driverless robotaxis with remote oversight. This milestone marks a significant step toward the commercialization of autonomous vehicle technology in the country.
Baidu and Pony.ai receive the first permits in China to test fully driverless robotaxis in Beijing. The companies each begin testing 10 completely autonomous vehicles across a 20-square-kilometer area in the Yizhuang district. These test vehicles navigate various complicated urban traffic conditions without anyone physically inside the car.
Instead of an in-car safety driver, a safety officer remotely oversees the test vehicles during these operations. This remote monitoring represents the third and final phase of the autonomous testing framework established by the Beijing Intelligent Connected Vehicle Policy Pilot Zone. To reach this advanced stage, the autonomous vehicles must comply with strict technical and operational standards, including required test miles and low disengagement rates.
This milestone distinguishes Beijing as the first city in China to allow completely driverless operations, advancing the nation's broader push to commercialize autonomous technology. The pilot zone gradually expands these testing privileges, building on previous phases that required a safety operator in the front or back seat. Pony.ai already holds a taxi license in Guangzhou for ride-hailing with an in-car driver, and the company continues to expand its global testing footprint.