Unmanned robotaxi services are expected to come to Shenzhen, Guangdong province, after a cooperation agreement was signed by autonomous driving companies and local authorities establishing a pilot autonomous driving commercial project in the city.

The project, featuring regular unmanned operations, will cover core areas including tourist attractions, central business districts, exhibition centers, airports and an ocean-themed urban area in Qianhai — part of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The agreement was signed on Friday between autonomous driving service provider Pony.ai, travel platform Ontime and the administrative authority of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone in Qianhai.

Under the agreement, Pony.ai and Ontime will jointly organize a professional robotaxi operation team in Qianhai to explore commercial multi-party business models and improve the division of responsibilities safety supervision, as well as the operating capabilities of unmanned ride-hailing cars.

The project will help build operating experience for further expansion of commercial applications of autonomous driving technologies, the agreement said.

Unlike most current robotaxi services, the project will eliminate the roles of drivers or front-seat passenger safety officers in cars and eliminate the need for a human to be on duty to take over control of the vehicle if needed.

Favorable policies have been introduced in many cities across the country to speed up the commercial operation of robotaxi services in recent years. A regulation on intelligent connected vehicles management came into effect in Shenzhen in August 2019, making it the first city in China to allow fully unmanned autonomous driving services on the road.

Chinese autonomous driving companies, including Baidu Apollo, Pony.ai, AutoX and Deeproute.ai, have increased their investment and promoted various forms of robotaxi services nationwide, following cities such as Chongqing, Wuhan and Beijing, which have approved fully unmanned autonomous driving commercial demonstration services.