Pony.ai has launched pilot Robotaxi service between Beijing Yizhuang, Beijing Daxing international airport. Other companies such as Baidu, WeRide, and AutoX are also among the enterprises permitted to conduct Robotaxi shuttle service between Beijing Daxing and the Yizhuang area. The operational route covers both urban and expressway scenarios, spanning approximately 40 kilometers, including multiple highways.
WeRide robotaxi vehicles are now authorized to conduct passenger-carrying demonstration operations between Beijing Daxing airport and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area.
Baidu’s robotaxi service platform, Apollo Go, has gained approval for demonstration of passenger-carrying Robotaxi service on the expressways to Beijing Daxing airport and certain areas within the airport. As the world’s largest autonomous driving mobility service provider, as of 30 September 2023, Apollo Go had accumulated over 4.1 million ride orders. In Q3-2023 alone, Apollo Go provided 821,000 rides.
Toyota Sienna-based robotaxis equipped with Pony.ai’s sixth-generation L4 autonomous driving software and hardware has been granted permission to conduct unmanned passenger-carrying demonstration in Beijing with remote monitoring. The car has a new and upgraded multisensory solution, establishing a multi-layered redundancy mechanism.
KargoBot, the autonomous driving truck solution provider backed by DiDi, officially commenced autonomous freight operations in Xinjiang, China. As a crucial hub for comprehensive energy resources in China, Xinjiang possesses vast coal and resource-rich areas, making it a key demand center for long-haul transportation, with multiple highways carrying annual volumes in the tens of millions of tonnes.
Avatr, the NEV brand jointly backed by Changan, Huawei, and CATL, announced the Avatr 12 model’s full-scale activation of urban NCA (navigation cruise assistance) intelligent driving function, which operates independently of high-precision maps. The car’s high-end intelligent driving system, Huawei ADS 2.0, comes standard with 3 lidar units, enabling long-range detection.
GAC Group and OnTime will jointly launch an advanced intelligent driving mobility service this year. Last December, GAC became one of the first automotive companies to obtain an L3 autonomous driving road testing license. In 2024, OnTime will launch GAC’s L3 AVs in Guangzhou, providing users with advanced ride-share services. Adigo Pilot can switch from L3 autonomous driving to L2+ navigation-assisted driving. When road conditions allow, the system activates L3 autonomous driving with the TJP function (traffic jam pilot).
ZF has recently secured their first L4 autonomous driving test license in China, making them the first foreign auto parts enterprise to obtain such a permit in Shanghai. ZF will conduct open-road testing in designated areas within the city. The AD system integrates ZF’s cutting-edge technologies and algorithms based on 4D millimeter-wave radar, BEV Transformer’s visual + 4D millimeter-wave fusion technology, a comprehensive auto labelling toolchain, and Cubix vehicle control algorithms.
Baidu’s autonomous robotaxi service, Apollo Go, received a license for intelligent connected-vehicle unmanned commercial trial in Shenzhen’s Bao’an District. This milestone allows Apollo Go to initiate fully autonomous commercial operations and charge fares there, following their successful deployment in the Pingshan District. In recent years, Apollo Go has been steadily expanding its presence across various cities, currently serving Beijing, Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Chongqing with fully unmanned robotaxi fleets.
Pony.ai received an unmanned intelligent connected vehicle commercial pilot license from Shenzhen’s Bao’an District. This marks the commencement of the country’s first commercial operation of unmanned Robotaxis in the central urban areas of a first-tier city. Pony.ai has so far deployed unmanned Robotaxi fleets in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, initiating commercial fee-based services in these cities.
WeRide has deployed self-driving sanitation vehicles in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. The robosweepers feature L4 autonomous driving technology, operating at speeds of 5-10 km/h during sanitation work. Currently, the Zhengzhou Economic Development Zone autonomous sanitation project covers 16 complex urban roads, totaling 21.8 kilometers.
The California Public Utilities Commission has suspended Waymo‘s robotaxi expansion in Los Angeles and San Mateo counties for at least 120 days, pending further review. This decision, effective immediately, follows recent safety concerns linked to Waymo’s autonomous vehicles— including two crashes in Phoenix, Arizona, in December 2023, and another incident involving a cyclist in San Francisco.
General Motors has significantly expanded their Super Cruise hands-free driving network, now offering around 750,000 miles of compatible roads across the United States and Canada. Over 80 per cent of users report a more relaxing driving experience, making it a top reason for their vehicle choice, Unique features include Lane Change on Demand, Automatic Lane Change, and the industry’s first hands-free trailering capability. The system has accumulated a track record of over 160 million miles driven without accidents.
Benteler subsidiary Holon is on the brink of securing a multimillion-dollar investment from Tasaru Mobility Investments. This investment is aimed at acquiring a minority stake. Tasaru, a Saudi Arabian firm with a focus on automotive innovations, plans to invest a nine-digit sum, marking a strategic partnership that underscores the global confidence in Holon’s innovative approach. The agreement between the two companies anticipates Tasaru obtaining up to 38 per cent of Holon, with the deal unfolding in stages—the first expected by April, pending regulatory approval.
