Shanghai took a bold step into the driverless future at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, issuing a fresh batch of demonstrative operation licenses for Level 4 autonomous vehicles.
Tech leaders Pony AI, Baidu and Saike Intelligent Technology snagged permits covering four vehicle models across two real-world business scenarios. Behind the move lie millions of kilometers in road tests and rich data sets, underscoring each company’s engineering might.
Industry experts say this license round marks a shift from trial runs to regular, scaled-up operations. By green-lighting these projects, Shanghai hopes to turbocharge commercial deployment of self-driving cars, edging the Chinese mainland forward in the global race to autonomy.
For entrepreneurs, tech buffs and digital nomads alike, the promise of more reliable, on-demand robo-taxis and driverless delivery fleets just moved a big step closer to reality. The next challenge? Expanding services beyond demonstration zones and building public trust in AI behind the wheel.
As Shanghai accelerates forward, the world will be watching. Could the bustling metropolis become the blueprint for smart mobility on a global scale? The road ahead is wide open.
Reference(s):
Shanghai issues new licenses for autonomous vehicle operations
cgtn.com
