Baidu, the Chinese tech giant, launched a paid driverless taxi service on Sunday, making it the first company in China to commercialize autonomous driving.
This was the first time there was no safety driver behind the wheel, unlike previous Baidu BIDU, -2.56 percent autonomous driving demonstrations in Beijing. Instead, a safety officer sat in the front passenger seat to deal with any emergencies.
Up to ten Apollo “robotaxis” are now working simultaneously in a 1.2-square-mile area in western Beijing, picking up and dropping off passengers at eight stops. Passengers aged 18 to 60 will take the ride for 30 yuan ($4.60).
The park is a former iron and steel factory that has been transformed into a tourist attraction and a potential location for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. On the second day of China’s international labor day holiday, an influx of tourists was seen in the park, despite light traffic.
