AutoX China
AutoX RoboTaxis can be hired using Alibaba’s mapping and transportation-booking app. Credit: AutoX, Inc.

Chinese autonomous vehicle startup AutoX a company has reportedly launched its self-driving taxi service in Shanghai, China.

According to TechCrunch, AutoX will initially be launching a fleet of 100 RoboTaxis in Jiading District available for hire using Alibaba’s AutoNavi mapping and transportation-booking app.

Alibaba is also one of the investors in the startup.

With the launch of RoboTaxis, AutoX will compete with Didi, which is China’s largest ride-hailing platform. Didi launched its own robo-taxi pilot programme in Shanghai at the end of June.

Didi also operates its self-driving taxis in Jiading District, located close to Shanghai’s city centre. It aims to launch more than one million autonomous vehicles by 2030.

Headquartered in Shenzhen, AutoX raised $100m in Series A round last year from backers, including Dongfeng Motor, Alibaba, and Plug and Play’s China fund.

In addition to AutoX and Didi, companies such as Baidu Pony.ai, and WeRide also offer autonomous taxi services in China.

AutoX is reportedly the only Chinese company to currently hold a permit for driverless robo-taxis in California.

The other two companies that hold this licence include Waymo and Nuro.

Last December, AutoX reportedly applied for a permit to test self-driving vehicles without an in-car backup driver in California, US.

With approval, AutoX can test self-driving cars with a remote human operator.

Speaking of the development, Reuters quoted AutoX chief operating officer Jewel Li as saying: “After three years of efforts, we believe that we have a technology that can go in deep, and safe for the public.”