During the trial operation, local residents can ride the bus for free by making online reservations through the WeChat mini-program "Shenzhen Bus" (Chinese: 深圳出行). The regular fare is set at 1 RMB.
This is the first autonomous bus line operated by a public transport company in Shenzhen. The mini-bus (Line B998) is 6 meters long and has nine seats. It travels back and forth between the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, with a total of six stops. The bus operates from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day.
Equipped with high-definition in-vehicle cameras, millimeter-wave radar, and laser radar, the minibus can have a comprehensive recognition of surrounding vehicles, pedestrians, non-motor vehicles, as well as the road situation.
According to the Shenzhen Bus Group, the operational scenarios of the four lines will cover subway stations, shopping districts, residential areas, central business districts, industrial parks, and cultural and tourism attractions.
Shenzhen, known as China's technology hub, has already launched a driverless bus as early as 2020, the "Panda Bus" in Pingshan District. The bus gets its cute nickname because of its appearance. Now, the Panda Bus runs between the Pingshan High-speed Railway Station and the Pingshan Biomedicine Enterprise Accelerator Park with two trips on weekdays.
Last May, a driverless minibus was also launched in the Xili area of Nanshan District. This bus, without a cockpit, has a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour.
In early July, Shenzhen was selected as one of 20 cities in China to spearhead a "vehicle-road-cloud integration" pilot initiative aimed at advancing intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs).
Source: GDToday
