DiDiChuxing has received a license to operate a fleet of self-driving cars on a pilot basis in part of the Jiading district in Shanghai. Besides DiDi, SAIC and BMW also received permits at the World Autonomous Vehicle Ecosystem Conference on September 16.
The license will initially allow DiDi to run up to 50 self-driving cars, which can be scaled up after an incident-free first six months. However, a driver will be required to be present in the vehicle. The self-driving car will be able to transport goods as well as passengers. Volunteers from the public, who will also be insured, will be allowed to ride in these vehicles.
These licenses are a significant boost to the autonomous car industry in China. Shanghai aims to expedite the commercial launch of autonomous vehicles, and the issuance of the permits is a step in that direction. According to a McKinsey report, the autonomous vehicle market will account for 66% of total passenger kilometers in China by 2040.