Beijing is poised to transform urban mobility with its ambitious plan to establish a 3,000-square-kilometer autonomous driving demonstration zone. This expansive area, situated between the city’s fourth and sixth ring roads, will account for nearly one-fifth of Beijing Municipality’s total land area, according to Xinhua News Agency reports from the recent World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference.
Since 2020, Beijing has been at the forefront of autonomous driving innovation. The city completed the deployment of intelligent roadside facilities within a 600-square-kilometer high-level autonomous driving demonstration zone—the first of its kind in the country. This infrastructure lays the foundation for the significant expansion now underway.
The demonstration zone has attracted leading technology companies such as Baidu, Pony.ai, WeRide, Neolix, and JD.com. Together, they are pioneering advancements across eight key application scenarios, including smart connected passenger vehicles, unmanned delivery services, autonomous patrols, trunk logistics, and automated sanitation solutions.
To date, the zone has issued road testing licenses to 33 companies, facilitating nearly 900 autonomous vehicles in their testing endeavors. The cumulative autonomous driving testing mileage has surpassed 32 million kilometers, representing more than a quarter of the total mileage nationwide.
Moreover, automated shuttle testing has been launched at major transportation hubs such as Beijing Daxing International Airport, Beijing South Station, and Yizhuang Station. The Beijing-Tianjin-Tanggu Expressway now fully supports autonomous trunk logistics scenarios, enhancing connectivity and efficiency in the region.
In a move to further support the autonomous driving industry, Beijing is also planning to legislate regulations on autonomous vehicles, as reported by Xinhua. This legal framework aims to foster innovation while ensuring safety and compliance.
The expansion of the autonomous driving demonstration zone underscores Beijing’s commitment to becoming a global leader in intelligent transportation. As the city accelerates its efforts, it sets a precedent for technological advancement and urban development in the region.
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Beijing planning a 3,000-sq-km autonomous driving demonstration zone
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