Beijing grants Baidu, Pony.ai new driverless robotaxi permits

FILE PHOTO: A logo of Pony.ai is seen on a Lexus vehicle equipped with the company's autonomous driving system, which will serve as a robotaxi, in Beijing, China May 13, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Baidu and Pony.ai said on Thursday they had received permits to deploy robotaxis without humans in the driving seat on open Chinese roads for the first time, in another instance of Beijing city's support for the autonomous-driving sector.

The permits are the latest set of approvals the municipal government has handed out over the past year to the two companies, which have been allowed to test drive their autonomous vehicles in some areas of the city.