Baidu has received what it says are the first permits ever issued in China authorizing a company to provide driverless ride-hailing services to the public on open roads in the capital city, Beijing. The company says that the regulatory approval marks a significant milestone for the autonomous ride-hailing industry in China, indicating regulatory openness to taking a further step toward a fully driverless mobility future. With the permits issued by the head office of the Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area (BJHAD), 10 autonomous vehicles without drivers behind the steering wheel will offer rides to passengers in a designated area…