Shanghai all set to launch robotaxi tests

Shanghai will launch a public testing program for its driverless taxi services as soon as next week, marking a step forward in the city's pursuit of intelligent and connected autonomous vehicle applications.

Shanghai officially issued the first permits for demonstration applications of the driverless vehicles to four companies on July 4.Over the past two weeks, autonomous driving companies have been preparing and fine-tuning their systems before initiating the public testing, which will be free of charge to citizens.

The designated testing area for the driverless taxi pilot program spans 68 square kilometers in Shanghai's Lin-gang Special Area in Pudong. Through a dedicated mini-program on WeChat, users can locate and access the designated pickup points marked with an "R" symbol.