WeRide has been granted permission to begin pilot commercial operations for its robotaxi service on the airport expressway, connecting Beijing Daxing International Airport and the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area, as announced in a press release June 27.
This approval from the Beijing Intelligent Connected Vehicle Policy Pilot Zone signifies a major step forward in the commercialization of WeRide's autonomous driving technology, allowing the company to offer fare-charging services and achieve full commercial coverage within the Pilot Zone.
The general public will have access to this service by utilizing the WeRide Go App, through which they can book rides from 242 stations across the designated area and track the vehicle's status in real time. Payment for these services can be made through WeChat upon reaching the destination.
Over the past year, WeRide has made considerable advancements within the Pilot Zone, transitioning from unmanned vehicle road tests to commercial pilot operations. The company has initiated several autonomous driving projects, including the first Level 4 autonomous driving shuttle route in Beijing, an unmanned sanitation project, and a series of firsts in terms of fully driverless robotaxi operations, passenger demonstration applications on the airport expressway and autonomous driving tests at Beijing South Railway Station. These projects underscore WeRide's leading role in diversifying autonomous driving products and applications in Beijing.
WeRide plans to extend its autonomous driving technology services to more areas in Beijing, focusing on five stations and two airports, to provide efficient, high-quality, and safe autonomous travel options. The service operates from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. the following day, and bookings can be made up to three days in advance, including on the same day of travel, via the WeRide Go App.
Source: https://www.weride.ai/posts/152
