A self-driving bus is seen running on a road of Changyang Campus in Yangpu district, east China's Shanghai, June 21, 2019. Photo: Xinhua

The demonstration line for internet connected self-driving buses was launched in Lingang New Area in Shanghai's Pilot Free Trade Zone on Tuesday, according to media reports.

The vehicles use intelligent connected bus technology designed by Zhuzhou CRRC Times Electric Co based on the third-generation autonomous driving platform, displaying functions such as traffic light signaling interaction and response, voice prompts for automatic driving actions, and multiple other automatic functions. 

The bus can achieve L3 level automated driving operation, domestic news site, cnr.com reported on Tuesday.

The demonstration line is 8.5 kilometers long with eight bus stops, and the vehicles take around 30 minutes to complete the route. Passengers can book a ride through the Wechat mini-program, according to the paper.cn on Tuesday.

The internet connected self-driving bus has already completed its major work objectives including functional development, system testing, and extended operational testing, the media reports said, adding that the bus is ready for ticket sale. 

In April, three self-driving buses, launched by Baidu Apollo and King Long Bus, hit the road in Yongchuan, Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, reportedly the first such service in the country. Each bus sits a member of the staff team who can switch to manual driving mode in emergency.