You may already have come across or used autonomous vehicles in Europe, which mainly serve as small closed-circuit shuttles for the time being. As legislation adapts to these new technologies, China's WeRide and Baidu are stepping up their efforts to gain a foothold in the market, starting with pilot projects and strategic partnerships in France and Switzerland.
Currently in France, these vehicles largely serve as small autonomous electric shuttles, whether to facilitate access to train stations or universities, or to enable isolated individuals to access public services. These driverless vehicles have become increasingly widespread in France since legislation authorized them to operate within a very specific framework. And this is now encouraging major international players to test their solutions in the country.
