BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Baidu (NASDAQ:) has obtained the licence to check autonomous autos with its Apollo robotaxi service in Hong Kong because it expands its footprint exterior Chinese language mainland.
Baidu Apollo Worldwide Ltd was accredited to conduct trials for 10 autonomous car in North Lantau, in response to a press release launched by Hong Kong’s Transport Division on Friday.
The license will likely be legitimate from Dec. 9, 2024 to Dec. 8, 2029, with just one self-driving automotive working on specified highway sections at a time in its first section, in response to the assertion.
Throughout the trial, a backup operator stationed on board shall take over management of the car if obligatory, it added.
The Hong Kong authorities has since no less than 2017 actively promoted autonomous autos, however has solely just lately allowed wider trials of autonomous autos together with on public roads following the rollout of a brand new regulatory laws in March this 12 months.
That is the primary pilot licence given out by the Hong Kong authorities for the reason that introduction of the brand new regulatory regime.
It additionally marked Baidu’s first identified allow for autonomous car testing exterior mainland China.
The corporate’s robotaxi service Apollo Go is working in a number of Chinese language cities, with the most important fleet of greater than 400 autos in central China’s Wuhan metropolis.
As competitors to commercialize autonomous autos heats up, Baidu plans to launch its robotaxi service exterior mainland China, together with Hong Kong, Singapore and the Center East, the Wall Road Journal reported final month.
