China’s capital, Beijing introduced new regulations on Tuesday to support autonomous driving technology, with plans to eventually allow driverless public buses and taxis.
According to Beijing Daily, autonomous vehicles that pass road tests and safety assessments will be eligible for road trials.
The new regulations will come into effect on April 1. According to the newspaper, the city supports the use of autonomous vehicles for private cars, urban buses, trams, and taxis.
This aims to encourage the development of intelligent road infrastructure to support such transportation.
In a separate announcement on Monday, the central Chinese city of Wuhan revealed it had approved regulations to foster the development of intelligent connected vehicles.
Beijing has traditionally been cautious about road security due to the city’s political significance. However, it has now become the latest Chinese city to show a greater willingness to fully embrace autonomous vehicles.
The government currently permits Baidu, Pony.ai, WeRide, and AutoX to operate automated shuttle services, with a safety driver onboard, between Beijing Daxing International Airport and the high-tech Yizhuang area in the southern part of the city.
The proposed regulation also allows certain entities to conduct mapping services using self-driving cars, including reviewing and updating maps, as well as transmitting map data.
