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Baidu
Tech

Chinese internet giant Baidu offers free trial robotaxi rides through search and map apps in Changsha

  • Baidu’s Apollo robotaxi service was first introduced in Changsha city in September, with an initial fleet of 45 autonomous cars
  • The new stage of trials removes previous screening and safety training requirements for passengers, making them available to all users in the city

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Baidu launched robotaxi services for the general public in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, with a fleet of 45 autonomous cars in September 2019. Photo: Handout
Sarah Dai
Chinese internet giant Baidu is offering free trial robotaxi rides to the general public in Changsha and making them available through its regular search and navigation apps, as the coronavirus pandemic bolsters its faith in an “unmanned and intelligent” future.
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Starting from this week, commuters in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, can hail a free autonomous ride via its popular search engine app Baidu and navigation app Baidu Maps, the company announced in a statement on Monday. It added that this is the first time robotaxi services are being offered on nation-wide apps.

Baidu’s Apollo robotaxi service was first introduced in the Chinese city in September, with an initial fleet of 45 autonomous cars, about two years after Google’s self-driving unit Waymo started its pilot project in Phoenix, Arizona.

Previously, users had to go through a round of screening and safety training before they could try Baidu’s service out. The new stage of trials removes this requirement, as well as the need to download a stand-alone ride-hailing app.

“Through over six months of operation among seed users, Baidu’s Apollo robotaxi program has set up a complete mechanism for safety evaluation and technical support,” the Nasdaq-listed company said in the statement on Monday. “This time [we are ready to] launch the service at a large-scale to the public.”

The company’s move to expand the reach of its robotaxi service comes as companies race to get a head start in self-driving technology, known for its low cost and high operational efficiency.

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