With the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) in every pore of our lives, robotaxis is not an unfamiliar concept and has already been unleashed in cities around the world, with the newest innovation by WeRide set to hit the streets of Beijing.
Specifically, WeRide announced it had received approval to launch its latest generation Robotaxi, the GXR, for fully unmanned paid ride-hailing services in the Chinese capital, as the second Robotaxi model to achieve fully driverless commercial operations there, per the company’s press release on February 24.
This also represents the first large-scale commercial deployment of the GXR in China, following its December debut on the Uber platform in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the authorities approved it for high-speed railway stations, as well as for commercial operations on highways, including routes to and from Beijing Daxing International Airport.
According to WeRide, since the official launch of the GXR, its makers have rapidly progressed to fully unmanned operations, with Dr. Tony Han, the company’s founder and CEO, commenting:
“By advancing from product launch to unmanned commercial operations in just four months, we’ve demonstrated that autonomous technology is ready to meet various transportation needs at scale. With this expansion, we continue to set the standard for autonomous mobility, making self-driving technology a reality for passengers everywhere.”
WeRide’s new Robotaxi characteristics
As for the vehicles themselves, the GXR features L4-level redundant drive-by-wire intelligent chassis architecture, open-concept spacious mobile travel design, and the world’s first hidden B-pillar design, which allows the front door and sliding side door to open simultaneously.
It can seat up to five passengers, offering the widest entry and exit space, the best seating space, and the largest luggage storage space in the robot taxi industry. Users can summon a GXR on the WeRide Go app, which is available in major mobile app stores.
The recent development brings the list of places where WeRide has launched Robotaxi services to six, other cities including Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ordos, Suzhou, and Abu Dhabi. The company now plans to launch fully unmanned operations in Zurich, Switzerland, sometime in 2025.
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