Google may have little pod-like driverless cars tootling about the streets of California, but a Chinese company recently sent a massive, self-driving bus packed with passengers on a 20-mile ride through the city of Zhengzhou.

Yutong, the firm that helped build the vehicle, said that on its maiden journey earlier this month the specially adapted bus “successfully completed a series of highly complex driving acts,” such as automatically changing lanes, overtaking, and responding to lights.

Hitting a top speed of 42 mph and reaching its destination without so much as a scratch, the journey apparently marked the world’s first successful trial of a self-driving bus.

Yutong has spent the last three years working with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and driverless-car experts to create tech for the bus that includes two cameras, four laser radars, and an integrated navigation system.

The company says the bus and its self-driving technology require further development and testing before a proper rollout can be considered.

A video posted this week by Russia Today shows the vehicle making its way along a highway. While the passengers may look a little unsure about the idea of a self-driving bus taking them around town, the “driver,” reclining in his seat with his hands behind his head, looks like he’s throughly enjoying the experience.



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