Hongqi launches driverless minibus

Self-driving cars have become a hot topic in China recently, with several major cities allowing real-world testing, such as Shanghai and Shenzhen. Baidu's robotaxi have also become popular. Now, Hongqi's self-driving minibuses are also seen on the streets, according toCarNewsChina.

The front of the car retains the brand's signature design with a large grille with a series of vertical chrome bars. There appears to be only one side of the car's doors and lidar sensors around the body. Inside, there are several vertical metal bars that act as grab handles for passengers, a red button (possibly an emergency stop button), a bench seat, and a ceiling-mounted screen.

In addition to the driverless minibus, Hongqi is also testing robotaxi. Previously, on July 10, Hongqi announced that it had received permission to conduct road tests for its third-generation level 4 robotaxi. The company also said that the vehicle had completed more than 100,000 km in the pilot area.

According to data from Global Market Insights, the global self-driving car market is valued at $2 trillion by 2023, while China's market size is worth $8.01 billion, according to Renub Research.

As the auto industry moves from electrification to intelligent autonomous driving, China is catching up and developing rapidly, from Level 2+ driver assistance systems gradually becoming standard on driverless delivery vehicles and public sanitation vehicles to Level 4 Robotaxes.

As self-driving cars develop, traditional car companies and drivers fear losing their jobs. Some are not confident about the safety of these vehicles. In May, Wuhan residents complained on social media that Baidu’s robotaxis were causing traffic jams. Specifically, the vehicles behaved abnormally, such as stopping in the middle of the road for no reason, delaying turns, and driving too slowly during rush hour, causing inconvenience to surrounding road users.