(Yicai Global) Sept. 10 -- Baidu, a leading Chinese internet search and artificial intelligence company, plans to launch its driverless taxi service in Beijing. 

The Beijing-based company will put 40 Apollo Go Robotaxis onto the capital’s roads, according to a Xinhua News Agency report. Users can book through Baidu Maps or Apollo's official website.

The total mileage under test this time is about 700 kilometers, covering nearly 100 stations in residential and business areas of Yizhuang, Haidian, and Shunyi. That makes it China’s biggest for mileage and area.

Baidu Apollo obtained Beijing's first batch of manned test permits for auto-piloted vehicles and was given 40 licenses in December 2019. After more than eight months of small-scale manned trials, its total safety test mileage for autonomous driving in the city has reached 500,000 kilometers. It has now won approval for the second phase of manned testing.

Baidu brought Apollo Go to Cangzhou in Hebei province last month, making it the second city to have welcomed the service following Changsha in April last year. Baidu Apollo Go has since entered multi-regional operation stage.