The Chinese search engine Baidu obtained permits on Monday to allow robot taxis to take to the road in two places. There is no need for a human driver in the car.
The taxis will be allowed on the road without a driver in the Chinese city of Wuhan and Chongqing province from Monday. It is the first time that such permits have been issued in the country.
–
Baidu called the release of the permits a “turning point” in China’s autonomous driving policy-making. “These permits are of great significance to the industry,” Baidu’s Wei Dong told news agency Reuters.
–
The company will initially deploy five robot taxis per location. The cars are only allowed to drive during the day and must remain in predetermined zones.
–
Baidu is also in talks with local governments in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. The company hopes to obtain permits within a year to have fully self-driving robot taxis on the road there as well.
–
