Technology
WeRide for Fully Autonomous Vehicle Testing in Guangzhou
(Caixin) The Chinese autonomous vehicle company WeRide has obtained on Friday the first driverless vehicle license in Guangzhou to be fully tested on approved open roads, bringing it closer to its dream to carry passengers on their robots to handle traffic emergencies by themselves. (Caixin)
Nissan-backed WeRide will connect test vehicles to a 5G-enabled remote control system that will take control of the vehicle when faced with unusual traffic conditions, such as road closures or temporary changes to traffic rules by the authorities, according to a statement.
A representative from WeRide told Caixin that there will be a backup driver in the back seat during road tests.
The company says that it has logged more than 2.6 million kms of Open Strait Testing across their flotilla of over 100 self-driving vehicles. In the first statement WeRide's Founder Tony Han said the business is 'will explore driverless technology for two to three years.'
In June, the company, 3 years old, expanded the roll-out of its self-sufficient taxis in Guangzhou, which enables users to take their own self-sustaining journeys via either the aliba-backed Amap navigation application or the WeRide Go WeRide App.
WeRide opponents, including Baidu, ride hailing titan Didi Chuxing, Pony.ai supported by Toyota and AutoX supported by Alibaba, have all begun to trial their own "robotaxi" services.
The self-driving spree coincides with the government's strategy of ensuring the mass production of "self-driving" vehicles by the year 2025 is achieved. "Conditional" driving automation is a level 3 technology that allows a car to drive itself only in certain conditions and requires a person to be ready for emergency control.
Source: Caixin by Ding Yi
