DiDi autonomous taxi fleet to launch in China

DiDi will launch 30 autonomous cars in Shanghai - drivers not included.

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DiDi Chuxing says it will allow passengers to hail self-driving vehicles as part of a pilot to launch in Shanghai.

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Matt Campbell

Managing Editor - Head of Video

2 September 2019

4 min read

Matt Campbell

Managing Editor - Head of Video

2 September 2019

4 min read

Forget rideshare services where there's an actual driver behind the wheel, because autonomous robo-taxi services are set to launch soon.

Chinese rideshare company DiDi Chuxing is behind the latest push towards driverless cars in rideshare land, having showcased a new autonomous robo-taxi it plans to launch imminently on public roads.

Autonomous vehicle hub

DiDi Chuxing says it will allow passengers to hail self-driving vehicles as part of a pilot to launch in Shanghai, with the city's government permitting DiDi to deploy 30 level-four autonomous vehicles in Jiading District. The pilot program will have a mix of completely autonomous and human-driven vehicles during the pilot.

The company's founder and CEO, Cheng Wei, told audiences at the Shanghai World Artificial Intelligence Conference the technology is imminent.

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"Technology only has worth when it brings value to people's lives. We believe giving ordinary citizens access to large-scale, shared autonomous fleets is key to achieving our shared goal of safety, efficiency and sustainability for future cities," said Mr Cheng.

Hailing an autonomous car works exactly the same way as if you were doing so with an Uber, Ola or DiDi today – call up the app on your smartphone, hail a ride to your desired destination, and jump onboard.

The cars being used for the program are Lincoln MKZ luxury sedans.

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Matt Campbell

Managing Editor - Head of Video

Matt Campbell has been at the forefront of automotive media for more than a decade, working not only on car reviews and news, but also helping manage automotive outputs across print, online, video and audio. After completing his media degree at Macquarie University, Matt was an intern at a major news organisation as part of the motoring team, where he honed his skills in the online automotive reviews and news space. He did such a good job there they put him on full time, and since then he has worked across different automotive media outlets, before starting with CarsGuide in October 2017. At CarsGuide Matt has helped shape the video output of the business, while also playing a key role in management behind the scenes, and helping in-market new car buyers make the right choice by continually evolving CarsGuide's comparison reviews. Driving more than 100 cars a year seemed like a dream to Matt when he first started out, but now it's all just part of the job - a job he loves and plans to stay in for a long time to come. Matt is also an expert in used car values, as he's always on the hunt for a bargain - be it a project beater or a prime example of the breed. He currently owns a 2001 Audi TT quattro and a 2007 Suzuki Jimny JLX.

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