Shanghai, China – Zhiji Auto, in collaboration with partners Xiangdao Travel and Saiko Intelligent, has officially launched its L4 Robotaxi tourist line, connecting the Shanghai International Tourism Resort with Pudong International Airport, offering free trials beginning August 20.
This strategic move comes shortly after the initiation of commercial L4 Robotaxi operations in the Lingang area on August 15, jointly with Johnson Taxi and Saiko Intelligent, signaling a significant acceleration in the commercialization of smart travel within Shanghai.
Expanding tourist accessibility in Shanghai
The new L4 Robotaxi tourist line offers a seamless connection between key tourist destinations, enabling users to summon a vehicle through the “Robotaxi” section of the Xiangdao Travel app. Passengers can embark on this “future travel” experience from locations such as the Shanghai Disneyland Hotel, Toy Story Hotel, Ecological Park Road, and the Airport Link Station.
Ms. Zhao, an early user, described the Zhiji L7 vehicle, equipped with a laser radar system, as “a bit like a futuristic war vehicle.” Her 30-minute journey from the Toy Story Hotel to Pudong Airport was marked by “zero takeover,” with the vehicle demonstrating decisive lane changes, overtaking, and precise pedestrian avoidance, which she found “technologically advanced and reassuring.”
Notably, the Zhiji L4 Robotaxi has received approval to operate directly within the roads of the two Shanghai Disney Resort theme hotels, enhancing convenience for hotel guests. This resort route marks Shanghai’s first autonomous driving demonstration project to encompass both expressways and roads, a significant milestone for Zhiji, which was among the first companies to receive Shanghai’s Intelligent Connected Vehicle Expressway Demonstration Application Permit.
Accelerating commercialization in lingang
Before the resort line’s launch, Zhiji L4 Robotaxi commenced its commercial operating service in Shanghai’s Lingang area on August 15. This followed the consortium of Zhiji Auto, Johnson Taxi, and Saiko Intelligent receiving one of the new batches of Shanghai Intelligent Connected Vehicle Demonstration Operation Licenses in July, qualifying them for paid operations within a specified area.
The Lingang service covers 58 major parking spots, strategically located near tourist attractions, commercial centers, residential communities, and public transportation hubs. Operating daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the service aims to cover peak travel periods for citizens.
Users can book a taxi through the Johnson & Johnson “62580” app and the “Zhixing Zhilian” mini-program. Safety protocols include the presence of a professional co-pilot safety officer in each vehicle and real-time background monitoring of the vehicle’s status, location, and road conditions to ensure timely emergency response.
Driving future innovation and safety
During its commercialization phase, Zhiji L4 Robotaxi has already amassed over 300,000 orders and traveled more than 7 million kilometers, achieving nearly 99% user satisfaction. This extensive real-world data and experience are crucial, as they will directly inform and accelerate the iterative evolution of the IM AD-assisted driving system used in Zhiji’s mass-produced vehicles.
The data from field tests indicate that the IM AD system’s safety performance is 6.7 times that of human drivers, handling complex scenarios such as highway ETC, roundabouts, mixed traffic, and tidal lanes with flexibility and safety.
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