Autonomous driving to take off in 2020, China robotaxi CEO says
GUANGZHOU -- Self-driving vehicles will soon be as ordinary as taking a self-operating elevator, according to Tony Han, CEO of Chinese robotaxi startup WeRide.ai.
"In the 19th century, elevators still needed human operators, but now they are unstaffed," Han said. "The autonomous operation of vehicles will become a commonplace service."
Han sees the new year as the turning point for self-driving technology.
"2020 will be the year in which we will further perceive autonomous driving intimately in our daily lives," Han said in an interview with Nikkei. "Just like we call taxis with apps, self-driving vehicles this year will be easily hailed with a smartphone."
The robotaxis will operate under what experts call Level 4 capability -- one rank below full automation -- in which the vehicle drives itself but human intervention remains possible.
In 2018, WeRide initiated a pilot program in part of Guangzhou, where the startup is based. The service area grew 70 times larger two months ago, and WeRide is collaborating with a local cab operator and other partners.
/http%3A%2F%2Fventurebeat.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F09%2Fwaymo-ipace-e1572290208222.jpg%3Fresize%3D1200%2C600%26strip%3Dall)
/http%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FEjKBVUUXYAE5MXW%3Fformat%3Djpg%26name%3Dsmall)
/http%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fcard_img%2F1303144707619532801%2F3-iTleij%3Fformat%3Djpg%26name%3Dsmall)
/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.autonomousvehicleinternational.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FFord-Michigan-Science-Center-1.jpg)
