JOURNALISTS from around the globe are in China as a part of a global media seminar through the Global Division of the Central Committee of the Communist Birthday celebration of China (IDCPC), which gave invitees a excursion of a number of districts, together with Guiyang, which is understood for its inexperienced generation and commercial prowess.
Delegates boarded the innovative RoboBus
Amongst its maximum notable achievements is a self-driving car, referred to as ‘Potato Bus’ through locals because of its ‘ap-peel-ing’ form.
Passengers got a 20-minute excursion within the car at the streets of Guiyang, and all of the passengers have been amazed through the enjoy, that would quickly be rolled out to streets around the country.
Talking to the delegates following the excursion, Guizhou Provincial Construction and Reform Fee consultant Feng Jianen defined that its creation comes as a part of a push to introduce extra inexperienced generation to a town this is pleased with its rising inexperienced credentials.
“It is my great honour to have the opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas from people around the world,” stated Ms Jianen. “In mild of provincial prerequisites, Guizhou has set inexperienced building as a concern.
Ms Feng, 2nd from left, all through the assembly with reporters
“We’re specializing in clever and built-in answers in inexperienced generation, such because the independent car.
“The city of Guiyang and the Guizhou Province are proud to have developed intelligent driving methods, that in the future could not only change the face of transportation in the city, but also have use in unique scenarios, such as mountain agriculture and underground mining.”
The Potato Bus (formally referred to as the RoboBus or Qiyu Loop) is an independent driverless minibus running within the capital of the Guizhou Province, advanced through the good mobility tech corporate PIX Shifting.
The car has ‘gone viral’ on social media globally due its whimsical look and internal. Native citizens nicknamed it the ‘Potato Bus’ as it options a fully symmetrical rounded frame.
It has no entrance or again and will pressure in each instructions very easily and not using a conventional riding mechanisms – no steerage wheels, no pedals and no rearview reflect.
As an alternative, the car is determined by ultrasonic radars, sensors and high-definition cameras to learn visitors lighting, navigate town streets, dodge any sudden hindrances at the highway and safely give approach to pedestrians if wanted.
It’s purely electrical with 0 emissions and will lift as much as six passengers at a time.
The city loop spans 8km and takes kind of 20 mins to finish a complete circuit, connecting main buying groceries spaces, industry hubs, city parks and home communities.
Moreover, a complete loop simplest prices about 20 Chinese language Yuan (round BD1) consistent with passenger.
Talking to the GDN, one of the vital delegate individuals expressed how inspired they have been with the car, vouching for its convenience, reliability and protection.
“My experience on the RoboBus was nothing short of impressive,” stated Bahamian leader reporter of The Tribune, Leandra Rolle. “I had ceaselessly heard about self-driving cars and noticed them on tv and social media however in fact using in a single was once an overly distinctive enjoy.
Information ace Ms Rolle
“Even if the journey was once somewhat brief, it has left an enduring impact. I by no means had any main issues about my protection. As an alternative, what stood out maximum was once my interest and amazement at how all of a sudden generation is rising.
“There is no doubt that as technology evolves, self-driving vehicles will become increasingly common in many parts of the world.”
In 2025, RoboBus started running a driverless trip path in Huaxi College The city, connecting campuses with surrounding residential and business spaces. The carrier is open to the general public and has been operating lengthy sufficient to acquire real-world operational knowledge.
The car interiors is also used extra flexibly, taking into account more than one roles past shipping, corresponding to cafes and the idea that of shifting or open place of business areas.
Lately, nations such because the UAE has develop into a pacesetter in independent mobility, with totally driverless taxis actively operating in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, particularly Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim, passengers can guide rides via Uber and the town targets for 25 consistent with cent of all transportations to be independent through 2030.
Abu Dhabi boasts greater than 120 such cars running commercially in Yas Island and Reem Island.
Final month, in Bahrain, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa stated all through a convention that the dominion was once making ready to open its roads to self-driving cars for the primary time, with plans underway to introduce groundbreaking regulation that might permit independent vehicles to be examined and operated right here.
He spoke all through the Bahrain Sensible Towns Summit 2026 the place he published the dominion was once making ready a wholly new regulatory framework designed to draw international funding in complex mobility answers.
“Bahrain is moving towards introducing new legislation that will, for the first time, allow self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles to operate and be tested in the kingdom,” stated Dr Shaikh Abdulla.
The minister published that pilot initiatives involving independent cars have been already being labored on at the back of the scenes as government get ready the criminal framework had to inspire non-public sector funding within the rising trade.
Dr Shaikh Abdulla highlighted Bahrain’s historical past as a generation checking out floor, recalling how German car large BMW as soon as selected Bahrain to check the arena’s first GPS navigation device put in within a car. He stated the dominion was once no longer merely adapting to the way forward for shipping – it sought after to lend a hand construct it.
“And soon, that future may include driverless cars navigating Bahraini roads legally for the very first time,” the minister added.
And, the enjoy in China might be offering essential real-world knowledge and passenger comments. Overlook the potato bus, we would possibly get the shawama specific.
