Beijing Issues First Permits for Fully Driverless Taxi Operations
Beijing grants Baidu and Pony.AI the first licenses to operate fully driverless taxis on city streets. While the companies cannot yet charge passengers, the move marks a major step in the commercialization of autonomous vehicles in China.
Beijing approves the first-ever permits for fully driverless taxis, granting Baidu and Pony.AI the authority to operate autonomous vehicles without human safety drivers. This landmark decision allows the Chinese tech giant and the autonomous vehicle startup to officially deploy their robotaxis on the streets of the capital city.
Baidu launches its Apollo Go ride-hailing service immediately following the approval with a fleet of 10 self-driving cars in Beijing. Although the company currently cannot charge passengers for these rides, Baidu states that profitability is not the immediate goal, focusing instead on introducing the general public to autonomous technology.
Pony.AI simultaneously receives approval to run four driverless taxis in Beijing, along with a separate permit to operate at least 100 robotaxis in the Nansha district of Guangzhou. Like Baidu, Pony.AI does not yet have permission to charge fares for its autonomous rides in the capital.