Some passengers have shared their experiences, stating that driving a self-driving taxi is exciting, safe, and convenient.
China has officially launched its driverless taxi service, known as robotaxi, in the suburbs of Beijing, marking a new phase in the development of its smart transportation system.
During a robotaxi experience in Beijing, China, the vehicle appears just like an ordinary car, yet it operates fully autonomously without a driver.
The first step for passengers is to enter a password to unlock the car. This password is sent via smartphone after successfully booking the ride. The interior is spacious, featuring a large screen in the back seat that continuously updates passengers about their journey.
Self-driving taxi on the streets of Beijing.
Mr. Ren Han – Researcher at Baidu’s Intelligent Vehicle Group stated: “This screen displays the real-time route map, and the interface shows traffic conditions, road signs, and other vehicles around.”
This vehicle, named Apollo Go, is Baidu’s pioneering autonomous vehicle line. Riding in the self-driving taxi is quite an interesting experience; some passengers frequently use this service to commute to work.
Mr. Peng – a technology employee in China said: “I use this service for my daily commute, it’s quick and convenient. Even though the car is driverless, the ride is still comfortable and smooth.”
In early March, Beijing city authorities permitted two technology companies, Baidu and Pony.ai, to launch their robotaxi services, with each company providing a fleet of 10 self-driving taxis in a 6,000-hectare area south of the capital. This marks the first time a fully autonomous vehicle is licensed to operate in a major global city. Following the testing phase, Baidu plans to expand its robotaxi service to 65 cities by 2025 and 100 cities thereafter.
