WeRide Robobus in Beijing: Pilots Opening of Autonomous Shuttle Service for Three Major Cultural Buildings

On March 3rd, in response to the varied travel needs of visitors to the three major cultural buildings in the Beijing Urban Sub-center, Beijing initiated a trial operation of an autonomous loop shuttle service. WeRide was entrusted with the responsibility of executing this project. Passengers can enjoy free rides on WeRide Robobus, shuttling between the City Green Heart Forest Park, Haojiafu Subway Station, and the three major cultural buildings. This marks the first L4-level automatic driving minibus passenger shuttle service connecting urban scenic clusters with adjacent subway stations in Beijing, while it also represents the first integration of the city's major bus system with autonomous driving microcirculation minibusses, serving as a milestone in public transportation services.

The three major cultural buildings in Beijing's Urban Sub-center-the Beijing Art Center, Beijing City Library, and Beijing Grand Canal Museum-are large exhibition halls nestled within the City Green Heart Forest Park, serving as the "cultural granary," "forest library," and "canal boat" respectively. They offer high-quality cultural experiences for residents and visitors from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, quickly becoming highly attractive new cultural icons in the capital. In alignment with these cultural landmarks and surrounding transportation hubs, WeRide has initiated the operation of two circular experience routes by Robobus. One route shuttles between the P12 parking lot of the City Green Heart Forest Park and the Beijing City Library, while the other connects the Haojiafu subway station with the Beijing City Library. These routes deliver efficient, convenient, safe, and stylish travel services for residents and visitors, enabling them to commute swiftly between attractions.

The WeRide Robobus is the world's first mass-produced autonomous minibus designed specifically for urban open roads. It has been deployed for testing and operations in nearly 30 cities worldwide, including Beijing, Guangzhou, Wuxi, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore. The vehicle adopts a fully driverless design without a driver's cabin and is equipped with WeRide's self-developed full-stack software and hardware solutions. It is equipped with multiple sets of cutting-edge sensors, enabling it to perceive surrounding road conditions with a 360-degree view, efficiently navigate various complex urban traffic scenarios, and ensure passenger safety comprehensively.

Currently, WeRide has deployed multiple mature and refined autonomous driving products in Beijing. From the end of 2023 to the beginning of 2024, WeRide Robotaxi successively obtained approval to conduct commercial pilot charging in urban scenes and passenger demonstration applications in high-speed scenes in Beijing. Meanwhile, the Robosweeper officially landed in Beijing's first L4-level unmanned driving sanitation commercial project. The initiation of the pilot program for automatic driving shuttle services around three major cultural buildings in Beijing further solidifies WeRide's position as the technology company with the most comprehensive and well-developed layout of autonomous driving products in Beijing.

In the future, WeRide will collaborate with partners to introduce additional popular routes, enhance departure frequency, and provide high-quality autonomous driving shuttle services for residents and visitors.