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 outdoors Chinese language mainland.
Baidu Apollo Worldwide Ltd was permitted to conduct trials for 10 autonomous automobile in North Lantau, in line with a press release launched by Hong Kong’s Transport Division on Friday.
The license can be legitimate from Dec. 9, 2024 to Dec. 8, 2029, with just one self-driving automobile working on specified street sections at a time in its first part, in line with the assertion.
Through the trial, a backup operator stationed on board shall take over management of the automobile if crucial, it added.
The Hong Kong authorities has since at the least 2017 actively promoted autonomous autos, however has solely lately allowed wider trials of autonomous autos together with on public roads following the rollout of a brand new regulatory laws in March this yr.
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 outdoors 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 autos in central China’s Wuhan metropolis.
As competitors to commercialize autonomous autos heats up, Baidu plans to launch its robotaxi service outdoors mainland China, together with Hong Kong, Singapore and the Center East, the Wall Avenue Journal reported final month.