AutoX demonstrates driverless passenger transport in Shenzhen, traffic control bureau: no test license and illegal operation

Recently, a video of driverless vehicles shot on an open road in Shenzhen has attracted the attention and heated discussion of netizens. The video shows 25 completely driverless vehicles driving on a busy road, and also demonstrates the actual use scenarios of passengers. Many netizens were excited after watching it, saying that the future of autonomous driving has arrived.

It is reported that this is the Robo Taxi fleet released by AutoX, which is unmanned and not remotely controlled. The test environment is ordinary roads in Shenzhen. AutoX said that these 25 driverless cars do not need manual control throughout the whole process, and can handle special situations such as parked vehicles on the roadside and road construction at night by themselves.

However, the media soon discovered that things were not as simple as they seemed, because Shenzhen has not yet approved any fully driverless cars to be tested on the road.

In response, the Shenzhen Traffic Management Bureau said: "Shenzhen has opened two batches of intelligent connected vehicle testing areas with a total mileage of more than 144 kilometers, and issued 7 test photos, which do not include AutoX's 25 RoboTaxis." In addition, the Shenzhen Traffic Management Bureau also stated that Shenzhen has not allowed any driverless taxis to start trial operations in the area.

Therefore, the test video released by AutoX is very suspicious. According to reports, the Robo Taxi only has ordinary temporary license plates from other places, and has neither the test photos of Shenzhen smart connected cars nor the operating qualifications. The current 25 AutoX self-driving cars are not legal and compliant in Shenzhen, and may face penalties from the Shenzhen Traffic Management Bureau in the future.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.