Baidu buses stepping up a gear

Chinese internet search giant Baidu Inc announced on Wednesday it has begun volume production of Apolong, China's first fully autonomous mini bus, in partnership with Chinese bus manufacturer King Long, and intends to ship such buses to Japan early next year.

Apolong, which can seat 14 people, will be put into commercial operation in several Chinese areas, including Beijing, Shenzhen, Xiongan New Area, Wuhan, and Pingtan in Fujian province, Baidu said.

The production volume of Apolong has reached 100 units at its manufacturing facility in Xiamen, Fujian province, said Robin Li, Baidu's chairman and chief executive, at Baidu Create 2018, the company's annual developers' conference in Beijing.