Visitors throng to check out the Robobus at the Salone Auto Torino 2024 in Italy. [Photo/Guiyang HIDZ Technology Innovation Bureau]
At the Salone Auto Torino 2024 show in Italy on Sept 13-15, a six-seater unmanned minibus – made in the Guiyang National High-tech Industrial Development Zone (Guiyang HIDZ), located in Southwest China's Guizhou province – grabbed the limelight with its futuristic design and cutting-edge self-driving technology.
Developed and manufactured by Guizhou Hankaisi Intelligent Technology Co (PIX Moving) – based in the Guiyang HIDZ – the driverless minibus, called Robobus, features a symmetrical design with an autonomous driving chassis and cabin.
The vehicle has no traditional components such as a driver's cockpit, steering wheel and pedals. Instead, it's equipped with an interactive display screen that shows real-time vehicle data and offers a variety of entertainment functions.
In May, PIX Moving signed a cooperation agreement with Italian mobile travel solution provider Tecnocad.
The partnership has already secured the first batch of licenses for testing and operating autonomous vehicles on public roads in Turin.
Under the agreement, PIX Moving will supply Tecnocad with its self-developed Robobus and other autonomous mobile spaces. Tecnocad, in turn, will handle the deployment and operational services of these autonomous products in Turin – aiming to provide shuttle services for the city's residents.
"The Robobus has been undergoing trial runs near Turin with very positive results. We plan to expand testing across Europe starting next month," said Stefano Cini, chief operating officer of Tecnocad.
"This collaboration aims to raise awareness of autonomous technology in Italy and Europe and explore new application scenarios in different markets," he added.
Cini said he was optimistic about the market prospects for the Robobus, noting that it was aligned with the global shift towards green transportation and represented a new mode of shared transportation model in both urban and off-road environments.
The Salone Auto Torino, with over a century of history, is a trendsetter in international automotive designs. This year's event, held in various commercial streets and squares in central Turin, attracted more than 40 global car manufacturers and over 500,000 visitors.