- Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU) says it has gotten its first batch of licenses to do open-road testing of its autonomous driving vehicles in designated parts of Beijing.
- It's the first company to get such permits, and it celebrated by taking five cars on its Apollo platform for a test spin in the city's southeast suburbs.
- There are 33 roads spanning about 105 kilometers open for testing, in less populated areas.
- Vehicles that apply for the license go through 5,000 km of closed-course training as well as capability evaluations, and safety drivers have to undergo 50 hours of training in order to take control of the vehicle in case of emergency.