Guiyang launches first driverless bus line

The Rorobus runs on the street. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Guiyang rolled out its first autonomous bus line on May 4 in Huaxi University Town, Guiyang, capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, and rides will be free through the end of May.

This futuristic minibus, developed and manufactured in Guizhou, features no steering wheel or driver's seat and can move in either direction.

The route starts at the Huaxidaxuecheng Railway Station and stops at Guizhou Normal University's northwest gate, Siya'nan Road (Middle), Gate 3 of Guizhou Minzu University, Guiao Time Square, and Gate 1 of Guizhou Institute of Technology. The whole trip covers 5 kilometers and takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Operating hours are Monday to Thursday and Saturday to Sunday, from 10:00-12:00 and 13:00-16:00.

Passengers can reserve a ride by scanning the QR code at bus stops or searching the WeChat mini-program "Rorobus". Starting June 1, the line will enter demonstration operations, with tickets priced at 5 yuan per ride.

After booking, passengers can track the bus' real-time location via the mini-program to better plan their trip. Boarding is easy: scan your ride code from the app when the bus arrives.

The minibus has already completed over 6,000 km of road testing. A safety officer will be on board to monitor operations in real time and can manually intervene in case of emergencies.

Guiyang plans to operate three driverless bus routes in Huaxi University Town, covering most of the area's universities.