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Kota Kinabalu: Beijing-based technology company company Baidu has been testing its 500 "robotaxis" in Wuhan, it has been reported.

The Apollo Go driverless ride-hailing service is only licensed to operate with a safety operator behind the wheel, while driverless vehicles are monitored remotely at a minimum ratio of one operator for three vehicles, the South China Morning Post reported.

Pregnant women, infants and people over 70 are not allowed to board the driverless ride-hailing vehicle.

Its fare is reportedly competitive and can be relatively cheaper.

Meanwhile, a minor accident has been reported when someone running a red light collided with the Apollo Go vehicle, which began moving as the traffic light turned green.

It is reported that these robotaxis have good "road manners" because they never speed or cut off other drivers but that behaviour is somehow seen by some as disrupting traffic.

Baidu self-driving unit General Manager Chen Zhuo said recently Apollo Go is expected to expand its Wuhan fleet to 1,000 vehicles.

The company’s sixth generation of driverless taxi service was launched in May, with other ride-hailing services previously launched in Beijing, Shenzhen and Chongqing over recent years, Euronews reported.