In Guangzhou, China, a level 4 autonomous bus has started operating its first scheduled and paid public transport service. Developed by technology company WeRide, the vehicle continues its journeys without the need for human intervention. The company has been conducting pilot tests in the city since 2022. Following this test period, the system was integrated into the public transport line and started carrying passengers.
Autonomous bus starts operating in China
The new autonomous bus operates on a 13.6-kilometer ring line in Guangzhou. A single tour takes about 55 minutes. The vehicle has a very small body compared to traditional buses. There is no driver’s seat or steering wheel inside. It can currently carry a maximum of six passengers. The journey fee is set at 10 Chinese Yuan.
This figure is equivalent to approximately 54 lira in Turkish Lira. This autonomous vehicle, which is the size of a minibus, has not reached the same level of capacity as large buses. However, it operates at a level that can be used on short-distance and low-density lines in the city.
The vehicle is equipped with equipment that can perceive its surroundings with high precision. 64-channel LIDAR sensors are placed on the four corners of the vehicle. These sensors can detect objects up to 250 meters away in three dimensions. HD cameras that provide 360-degree vision detect traffic signs, road lines and small objects.
The lidar system that detects blind spots is also accompanied by a millimeter wave radar for bad weather conditions. The GPS-supported positioning system offers sensitivity of up to 10 centimeters. Thanks to all these sensors, the vehicle can safely move at speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour.
WeRide is not limited to buses that carry passengers only. The autonomous driving systems developed by the company are also integrated into different vehicles. These vehicles, whose testing processes are currently ongoing, include driverless robotaxis, autonomous cleaning vehicles and unmanned cargo transportation systems. Having conducted over 40 million kilometers of testing in the last six years, WeRide has collected test data in different scenarios with its fleet of approximately 1,000 vehicles.
The company’s work is not limited to China alone. WeRide has also taken its technology abroad with international licenses. In France, a license for autonomous bus use was obtained in cooperation with Renault.
The number of countries where the company offers public transportation services with level 4 autonomous vehicles has reached five: China, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, France and the United States. In the robotaxi market, where American competitors are particularly concentrated, WeRide has also started operating in this market with an agreement with Uber in Abu Dhabi.
