WeRide’s Self-driving Robobus Without Steering Wheel Is Already Picking Up Passengers In China

Tesla CEO Elon Musk promises Robovan by 2027, but WeRide’s self-driving Robobus is already picking passengers in China.

Robobus, which pioneers a cockpit-less design and seats up to 10 passengers, is the world’s first purpose-built self-driving minibus.

With a top speed of 40km/h, this Robobus can operate on open roads all day and all night under all kinds of weather conditions.

Currently, WeRide is operating its Robobus in 19 cities around the world, including in Beijing as well as Abu Dhabi in the Middle East.

Earlier this month at a flashy event called “We, Robot”, Tesla CEO Elon Musk showed the world the firm’s highly anticipated self-driving robotaxi, the Cybercab, alongside a new 20-seater bus called Robovan.

While Musk promises Cybercab and Robovan by 2026 and 2027, a similar self-driving bus also without a steering wheel, dubbed the Robobus, is already picking up passengers in China.

• See Also : Elon Musk Unveils Tesla Cybercab, A Self-driving Robotaxi With No Steering Wheel Or Pedals

Created by Chinese self-driving startup, WeRide, the Robobus, which pioneers a cockpit-less design and seats up to 10 passengers, is the world’s first purpose-built self-driving minibus.

“WeRide’s Robobus has a 360-degree sensing capability with no blind spots, and has a 200-meter range of obstacle detection. With a top speed of 40km/h, this Robobus can operate on open roads all day and all night under all kinds of weather conditions.”

Established in 2017, Guangzhou-based WeRide develops autonomous driving technologies from Level-2 system that requires the driver to be vigilant to Level-4 system that can drive without human assistance under certain conditions.

Currently, WeRide is testing and operating its Robobus in 19 cities around the world, including Guangzhou, Beijing, Wuxi and other cities in China, as well as Abu Dhabi in the Middle East.

• See Also : BMW’s Humanoid Robot That Walks, Perform Two-handed Tasks, Completes Testing At Its Plant