Bangkok, Thailand - Feb 20, 2020 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of self-driving vehicle
2. Press conference in progress
3. Various of promotion video of self-driving vehicle
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ekkarut Viyanit, principal researcher, National Science and Technology Development Agency (with reporter asking question) (partially overlaid with shot 5):
"The key concern is the safety level of the autonomous driving vehicle, and we also have to convince the regulation agency in Thailand to believe in the development of autonomous driving."
(Reporter: But you're sure it's coming?)
"Sure, yes of course!"
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
5. People on self-driving vehicle
++SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE++
6. Various of screen
7. Red stop button for emergencies
8. Various of self-driving vehicle
9. Various of traffic

Bangkok has begun driverless trials with "tuk-tuk" cars as Thailand is hoping to become a key player in the development of self-driving vehicles.

The country is already the biggest car manufacturer in Southeast Asia, and now, it is carrying out researches on the three-wheeled tuk tuk taxis.

The tuk tuk taxis, which often belch out noise and fumes as they weave through the traffic, have become the inspiration for the test-bed for the development of driverless and electric vehicle technology in Thailand.

The experimental vehicle will spend six months negotiating traffic at a private Bangkok community. The test area is home to 10,000 people – and includes condominiums, a school, shopping mall and health center.

Most advances in autonomous vehicle development in this part of the world have so far come from China and Japan. With the test vehicle, Thailand is hoping to set the pace in Southeast Asia.

A partnership between private industry and the Thai government is conducting the trial. They're starting with a golf cart, but believe the technology will easily transfer to passenger-carrying robot tuk tuks.

"The key concern is the safety level of the autonomous driving vehicle, and we also have to convince the regulation agency in Thailand to believe in the development of autonomous driving," said Ekkarut Viyanit, principal researcher for the government's National Science and Technology Development Agency.

The test vehicle follows a route on a 3D map. There's no steering wheel, but there is a red stop button for emergencies.