China: Self-driving shuttles debut at Xinjiang's Urumqi airport.

Storyline Self-driving shuttles debut at Xinjiang's Urumqi airport Xinjiang Urumqi Tianshan International Airport has launched China’s first large-scale autonomous shuttle bus operation, with 16 self-driving passenger vehicles now serving travelers. The system features cloud-based dispatch, autonomous cruising, obstacle avoidance, and precision docking, and is built to withstand extreme cold, heat, and sandstorms. The airport has now deployed more than 100 autonomous vehicles and robots, including unmanned baggage tractors that handle 70% of luggage and 90% of cargo, sorting robots with a success rate exceeding 98%, and new-energy vehicles that help cut annual carbon emissions by more than 70,000 tonnes. With China’s air passenger traffic projected to reach 980 million by 2030, this pioneering project is set to reshape airport ground transportation across the country. Chen Wengang, Ground Service Deputy Director, Xinjiang Airport Group: "This is the peak summer travel season. With flight volumes rising, we have more nighttime arrivals and remote-stand operations. Our 16 autonomous shuttles are now fully operational, significantly boosting our overall ground handling capacity." [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]