Shanghai Issues First Fully Unmanned Vehicle Licenses at WAIC2024 to Baidu, SAIC, AutoX, and PonyAI

Jul 8, 2024, 06:56 AM

Shanghai has issued its first batch of fully unmanned internet-connected vehicle licenses to Baidu, SAIC AI Lab, AutoX, and PonyAI. These companies received the licenses at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2024 (WAIC2024). The licenses allow these firms to put their robotaxi services into commercial use in certain areas of the Pudong district before January 5, 2025. Baidu's driverless taxi service, Carrot Run, has already completed 6 million rides with a fleet of just 1,000 cars, highlighting the growing popularity and cost-effectiveness of autonomous vehicles. This move marks a significant step in the advancement of autonomous vehicle technology in China, with Shanghai becoming a key hub for driverless vehicle innovation.