SHANGHAI is offering free rides in self-driving taxis or “Robotaxis” during its trial phase.
This is an automated vehicle called ‘Robotaxis’ with features such as an animation showing the taxi’s movements as well as its ability to play music.
Although someone was sitting in the driver’s seat, they did not touch the steering wheel throughout the ride.
One passenger described the experience as “astounding,” as the car can handle all driving functions on its own.
The vehicle also featured a user-friendly interface for English speakers and entertained passengers with music and animations showing the taxi’s movements.
Driverless ‘Robotaxis’ are currently in operation on a small scale in the US, China, and the UAE, where they face scrutiny over safety, pricing, and job impacts.
In China, passengers can travel up to 10km in a driverless car for about 50 cents.
Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Wuhan, as well as several other cities in China, have begun issuing licenses for companies like Baidu’s Apollo Go and Alibaba-associated AutoX.
