Chongqing - The Western (Chongqing) Science City recently launched its first autonomous-driving “Enterprise Shuttle Line,” representing a major milestone in smart transportation.

Li Wei, an employee at Jinfeng Electronic Information Industry Park, shared that he leaves home at 7:30 a.m. and takes the autonomous 'Intelligent Line 5,' reaching his office and clocking in within 15 minutes.

Li expressed his satisfaction with the new line, as it stops near his home, making his daily commute much more convenient.

Autonomous shuttle bus station. (Photo/Lei Jian)

The “Intelligent Line 5” spans 8.3 kilometers, connecting the Zengjia area with the Jinfeng district. The route includes nine stops and passes through key locations such as Zengjia, Jinfeng Electronic Park, Fengsheng Road East, Fengsheng Road Central, and Fengsheng Road West. 

The line is open to both employees and the public, offering free rides to all passengers.

Fengsheng Road is home to over 500 businesses and thousands of employees. Public transportation demand has traditionally surged during rush hours while being lower during off-peak times. Commuters typically relied on two regular bus routes and one special service bus for daily travel.

In June, Chongqing High-Tech Zone's support officers identified commuting issues for businesses. The Urban Construction Affairs Center quickly activated its complaint resolution mechanism and formed a team to address the challenges.

After assessing the needs, an autonomous driving line was introduced to complement regular bus services and provide direct access to company premises.

The planning process for the autonomous driving line involved designing three preliminary routes. Opinions were gathered from over a dozen representative companies, covering aspects such as service projects, public commuting patterns, route rationality, and integration with existing public transportation.

“The shuttle service was up and running in less than two months from the time the request was made,” said the spokesperson. 

Previously, employees had to walk or bike before transferring to a bus. Now, they can directly board the autonomous shuttle, streamlining their commute and improving their overall experience.

Since its trial operation began in July, the "Intelligent Line 5" has been running every 20 minutes during peak hours and every 40 minutes during off-peak times, with over 1,000 passengers using the service.