According to People’s Daily, China’s first driverless subway line, the Yanfang line in southwest Beijing, is expected to start operations at the end of 2017. Operations on the line will be fully automatic, including train departures, door opening and closing, and cleaning. The trains will only use domestic technology. Beijing subway lines 3, 12, 17, 19 and the new airport line are all under planning and will also operate with completely automated, driverless trains. It is expected that the total length of fully-automated subway lines in Beijing will reach 300 km by 2020.
CAS news release, August 30, 2016