Baidu, Pony.ai nab commercial robotaxi licenses in Beijing


Baidu’s Apollo car with an autonomous driving system, which serves for self-driving taxi services, at the Shougang Industry Park in Beijing, China. — Reuters

Search giant Baidu Inc and Toyota Motor Corp-backed Pony.ai Inc were granted the first batch of licenses from Beijing regulators to start open-road autonomous commercial driving operations in a part of the city equivalent to the size of Manhattan.

The pilot licenses will allow a fleet of around 100 cars from the two companies to travel around the 60-square-kilometer (23 square mile) so-called Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area, about a 30-minute drive from Tiananmen Square, according to state media reports.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
   

Next In Tech News

AI analytics firm Pyramid Analytics secures $50 million from BlackRock
Google's US antitrust trial over online ad empire draws to a close
Corning offers to waive exclusive deals in EU antitrust probe, may stave off fine
US finalizes awards to BAE Systems, Rocket Lab for semiconductor chips
Social media sites call for Australia to delay its ban on children younger than 16
Study: New coating can make China’s stealth aircraft invisible to anti-stealth radar
Apple chief returns to China as Beijing prepares to fete CEOs
Meet the San Francisco billionaire who paid US$6.2mil for a single banana
Shazam rides high, reaching 100 billion song recognitions
South Korea prosecutors seek 5-year jail term for Samsung Elec chief in appeals case

Others Also Read