Driverless taxi tested

Singapore is testing the first driverless taxi, which rolled out today in a limited public trial, Automotive News reports. Developer nuTonomy has invited a select group of people to download the app and ride in the Mitsubishi i-MiEv electric vehicle, for free, in a western Singapore hi-tech business district. While the developer is planning a full roll-out of the service in 2018, an engineer will sit behind the steering wheel to monitor the system and take control if needed. nuTonomy executive Doug Parker says: “This is really a moment in history that's going to change how cities are built [and] how we really look at our surroundings.” The trial is ongoing, and follows private testing that began in April. Parker says the company partnered with the Singapore government for the project. He hopes to have one hundred taxis on the roads in the city-state by 2018.