Baidu rolls out robotaxi service in Beijing
May 4, 2021 Category China News Round-up, Weekly
Baidu, well-known for its internet search function, rolled out its paid driverless taxi service in Beijing, making it the first company to commercialize autonomous driving operations in China. Unlike previous Baidu autonomous driving demonstrations in Beijing, this was the first time there was no safety driver sitting behind the wheel, but a safety officer was still seated in the front passenger seat to deal with any emergencies. Up to 10 Apollo “robotaxis” are now operating simultaneously in an area of about 3 square kilometers, picking up and dropping off passengers at eight stops in Shougang Park in western Beijing. Each ride costs CNY30 and is available to passengers aged 18 to 60. The park is the former site of an iron and steel plant that has been redeveloped into a sightseeing destination and a future venue for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
The robotaxis were repeatedly forced to brake when encountering jaywalkers or curious tourists who came close to the vehicles to take photos. Kelly Wang and her husband, who both work in the artificial intelligence industry, said they had a smooth ride. “I would recommend people experience this. There is a strong sense of technology, because nobody is in the driver’s seat,” Wang said. Passengers can order a robotaxi on an app called Apollo Go. When the taxi arrives, passengers must have their identities verified before getting in. The taxi will start to move after it detects the passengers have fastened their seat belts.
Baidu has been testing autonomous driving on the open road since last year. Its Apollo Go robotaxi service has carried more than 210,000 passengers in three Chinese cities and aims to expand to 30 cities in the next three years, the company said, as reported by the Shanghai Daily.
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