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| AutoX launches the RoboTaxi service in Shanghai |
The autonomous company Autostart (AutoX) today announced the public launch of its autonomous taxi service called RoboTaxi in Shanghai.
AutoX faces competition from Didi, China's largest transportation services platform, which launched a pilot self-driving taxi program in Shanghai in late June.
AutoX's RoboTaxis service is introduced for the first time in Jiading with a fleet of 100 vehicles. The company plans to establish a robotaxi service in Europe.
Tours can be booked through AutoNavi, a mapping and travel booking app owned by Alibaba investor.
Shenzhen-based AutoX raised about $ 100 million last year from backers, including Dongfeng Motor, one of the largest carmakers in China, the Alibaba Group, and the China Plug and Play Fund. .
RoboTaxis can compete with the Didi Experience as a self-driving taxi. There are also self-driving Dede taxis in Jiading. Although the city of Jiading is a little close to the center of Shanghai, it is not as crowded.
Didi Chuxing was only formed after the company announced that it had raised $ 500 million from investors, including SoftBank, for its new subsidiary for independent management.
Didi's ambitious goal is to have more than 1 million autonomous vehicles in use by 2030.
AutoX and Didi compete with independent taxi service listings from Chinese competitors such as Pony.ai, Baidu and WeRide.
All competitors have launched standalone taxi services in different cities, while others such as Momenta are focusing on setting up self-driving taxi programs for partners that can enable more automated taxi fleets.
Part of the reason Momenta made the progress is due to government support. Because the Chinese government has put huge resources into many industries to offset the economic impact of the coronavirus, including autonomous driving, 5G, and artificial intelligence.
AutoX owns a number of auto taxis in Nanshan District, Shenzhen City, and has independent transportation experience in densely populated urban areas.
AutoX is currently the third company to obtain a self-driving vehicle license in California, along with Waymo and Nuro, and it is the only company focused on China.