Beijing is taking a giant leap towards the future of transportation by planning a sprawling 3,000-square-kilometer autonomous driving demonstration zone. This expansive area lies between the city's fourth and sixth ring roads, encompassing nearly one-fifth of Beijing Municipality's total land area.
According to the World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, held in Beijing this past Saturday, the city has successfully deployed intelligent roadside facilities within the high-level demonstration zone. Originally planned as the country's first autonomous driving area in 2020, covering 600 square kilometers, the initiative has now scaled up significantly.
The demonstration zone has become a hotspot for leading technology companies, including Baidu, Pony.ai, WeRide, Neolix, and JD.com. These companies are collaborating across eight application scenarios such as smart connected passenger vehicles, unmanned delivery, autonomous patrols, trunk logistics, and automated sanitation, fostering comprehensive demonstrations and innovation.
To date, the zone has issued road testing licenses to 33 companies, allowing nearly 900 vehicles to operate within its boundaries. These vehicles have already accumulated over 32 million kilometers of autonomous driving testing mileage, accounting for more than a quarter of the country's total.
In addition to vehicle testing, Beijing has launched automated shuttle services at key locations including Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing South Station, and Yizhuang Station. The Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Expressway has also been upgraded to fully support autonomous trunk logistics scenarios, further enhancing the region's smart mobility infrastructure.
Looking ahead, Beijing is planning to introduce legislation to regulate autonomous vehicles, aiming to create a comprehensive legal framework that supports the continued growth and integration of autonomous technology in the city's transportation ecosystem.
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Beijing planning a 3,000-sq-km autonomous driving demonstration zone
cgtn.com
