(Yicai Global) Aug. 18 -- Chinese internet giant Baidu has released an upgraded version of its driverless car mobility platform, building on the fleet of robotaxis that it has been running on a trial basis for the last two years, to provide a regular ridehailing service that allows users across the country to order an unmanned taxi to their door.

Luobo Kuaipao will make self-driving taxis the norm among the public and will provide a variety of value-added services, founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Robin Li said at the Baidu World 2021 event today. The service will be available in over 30 cities within the next three years.

The Beijing-based firm has already been offering a limited robotaxi service through its Apollo Go app in test areas in Beijing, Guangzhou in southeastern Guangdong province, Changsha in central Hunan province and Cangzhou in northern Hebei province. In the first half Apollo Go served over 400,000 passengers and its driverless taxi fleet covered 14 million kilometers, the firm said today.

Baidu also unveiled its concept vehicle the Robocar today, capable of the highest level of autonomous driving, Level Five, which does not require human intervention. The car can also have conversations and learn intuitively, like a smart robot.

Editor: Kim Taylor