Shanghai 'model' sets pace for robotaxi services

Shanghai teenager Tang Yuyang paid 21 yuan ($2.95) to ride 5.8 kilometers in a robotaxi for the simple joy of becoming a small part of the city's automotive history.

On the morning of Aug 1, he booked a robotaxi ride at the entrance of Century Park, located within the designated operation zone of one of the commercial driverless taxi pilot services in Pudong New Area. Tang was one of the first passengers of the new service offered in Shanghai by the autonomous mobility service provider Pony.ai.

The 16-year-old high school student described the trip as smooth, comfortable and safe, and "close to riding with a human driver, but with a touch of technology".

"When the car arrived after a short wait, many elderly residents nearby stopped to watch with curiosity," he said.

"I felt a little nervous when I got in, but mostly I was excited."

Shanghai has joined Beijing and several other Chinese cities in offering commercial robotaxi services. But what sets the city's services apart is that they are operating in business areas with heavy populations.

As part of the approvals granted for autonomous ride-hailing services in Shanghai, operators must team with traditional taxi companies to tap into their knowledge and experience.

Pony.ai is among eight companies recently licensed to launch driverless commercial robotaxi services in the city.

It has partnered with Jin Jiang International Holdings Co's taxi service arm to launch a regular robotaxi service in Shanghai's Jinqiao and Huamu areas. Operating Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm, the routes cover key destinations such as the Pudong New Area government, Lalaport shopping mall, Century Park, and the Pudong Football Stadium metro station, linking workplaces, residential areas, and recreational spots.

"Since the pilot service began on Aug 1, the robotaxis have been running at near full capacity, operating more than 10 hours a day with rides in high demand," said Shi Deming, deputy general manager of Jin Jiang's taxi service arm.

The service area was chosen to match city traffic conditions and the requirements of the pilot program, Shi said. With its high population and commercial density, the district offers a good representative environment for testing different scenarios, he added.

"Our long-term goal extends beyond this pilot phase; we are preparing for large-scale commercial deployment, aiming to drive the transformation and upgrading of traditional taxi operations through new quality productive forces," Shi said.

Huang Jun, vice-president of Pony.ai, said: "The Jinqiao and Huamu areas were chosen as the starting point for driverless taxi services because they combine office buildings, upscale residences, and retail facilities, forming a complete urban community with diverse use scenarios."

According to Huang, the selected area also has heavy foot traffic and strong demand for transportation, making it an ideal place to test the service in real-world conditions.

"Looking ahead, we plan to gradually expand the network across Pudong, increase the size of the autonomous fleet, and add more pickup points so more residents can experience robotaxi travel," he said.