Ride one of Baidu's driverless robotaxis as service expands in China

Record ID: 1712615

  • Title: Ride one of Baidu's driverless robotaxis as service expands in China
  • Date: 24th February 2023
  • Summary: WUHAN, CHINA (FEBRUARY 24, 2023) (REUTERS) BAIDU "APOLLO GO" ROBOTAXI DRIVING AUTONOMOUSLY ON STREET FRONT COMPARTMENT OF ROBOTAXI DURING JOURNEY DRIVERLESS CAR SENSOR ATOP ROBOTAXI ROBOTAXI PARKED WITH QR CODE VISIBLE ON REAR REN HAN, SPOKESPERSON FOR BAIDU’S INTELLIGENT DRIVING GROUP (IDG), TYPING IN PICKUP CODE ON ROBOTAXI TOUCH SCREEN / ENTERING ROBOTAXI ROBOTAXI PAR
  • Embargoed: 10th March 2023 20:03
  • Keywords: BAIDU CAR FLEET INCREASE CHINA DRIVERLESS CAR IN FULL OPERATION WUHAN robotaxi
  • Location: WUHAN, CHINA
  • City: WUHAN, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Science,Internet / World Wide Web
  • Reuters ID: LVA001275524022023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China's search engine giant Baidu Inc said on Friday (February 24) its fleet of robotaxis in the country's central city of Wuhan has increased to more than 100 fully driverless cars.
    Baidu obtained permits last year to operate its self-driving taxi service Apollo Go on open roads in cities like Wuhan and Chongqing.
    The permits allow commercial robotaxis to offer rides to the public without human safety drivers in the car.
    Apollo Go, the first such service of its kind in China, now operates in an area exceeding 530 square kilometres, spokesperson for Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group, Ren Han, told Reuters.
    As of January 2023, the service had delivered over two million rides across China, he added.
    One Wuhan resident said he was already commuting daily to work in the robotaxis: "I think the response time of Apollo Go is faster, and it’s more convenient."
    "Although it’s a driverless car, it has a smoother driving experience," said Peng, who works in the IT industry.
    Baidu in December 2022 said it had received its first license from Beijing to test vehicles in the Chinese capital with no driver or safety operator in the car.
    Beijing-headquartered Baidu, which generates most of its revenue from its internet search engine, has focused on self-driving technologies over the last five years as it looks to diversify.
    (Production: Josh Arslan)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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