BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s Baidu (NASDAQ:) has obtained the licence to check autonomous automobiles 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 automobile in North Lantau, in accordance with an announcement launched by Hong Kong’s Transport Division on Friday.
The license shall be legitimate from Dec. 9, 2024 to Dec. 8, 2029, with just one self-driving automotive working on specified street sections at a time in its first section, in accordance with the assertion.
In the course of the trial, a backup operator stationed on board shall take over management of the automobile if vital, it added.
The Hong Kong authorities has since a minimum of 2017 actively promoted autonomous automobiles, however has solely just lately allowed wider trials of autonomous automobiles 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 because the introduction of the brand new regulatory regime.
It additionally marked Baidu’s first recognized allow for autonomous automobile testing exterior mainland China.
The corporate’s robotaxi service Apollo Go is working in a number of Chinese language cities, with the biggest fleet of greater than 400 automobiles in central China’s Wuhan metropolis.
As competitors to commercialize autonomous automobiles heats up, Baidu plans to launch its robotaxi service exterior mainland China, together with Hong Kong, Singapore and the Center East, the Wall Avenue Journal reported final month.
