Chinese technology firm %Baidu ($BIDU) has officially launched the world’s first %DriverlessTaxi in Beijing, enabling people to ride in a cab without anyone behind the wheel.
Baidu, which specializes in %ArtificialIntelligence (AI), has partnered with autonomous driving start-up Pony.ai on the %Robotaxi initiative. The companies announced that they have received China’s first permits to provide robotaxi ride-hailing services to the public.
The permits do not require an operator to sit in the driver’s seat of the taxi. The driverless service was introduced in Beijing and allows passengers to call for taxis using Baidu’s app.
For now, the robotaxis are restricted to a designated area of 23 square miles. Currently, the programs are being offered for free to riders.
The launch of the robotaxi marks a big step forward for self-driving technology and AI in the world’s biggest car market. Robotaxis have long been discussed and theorized about but have been conceptual up until this point.
Baidu is best known for its search engine, but it also owns the largest autonomous driving fleet in China and is a global leader in AI applications. The company said it would start off with 10 robotaxi vehicles under the program and add 30 more later this year.
Pony.ai, a fast-growing start-up that was founded by former Baidu engineers in Fremont, California, said that as many as 300,000 residents in Beijing would be able to try out the self-driving taxi experience. The company is backed by %Toyota ($TM) and was last valued at $8.5 billion U.S.
China has become an important testing ground for autonomous vehicles, with a small pool of companies routinely notching new records on various fronts, such as removing the safety driver, opening services publicly, and advancing the number of miles self-driving vehicles have traveled.
Baidu had previously been allowed to test ride-hailing services in autonomous vehicles in several cities, including Beijing, though a human was still required to stay in the driver’s seat.