Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu is launching Taiwan's first driverless electric bus.

Imported from France with some components assembled here in Taiwan, the buses will ply city streets this October for the Eco-Mobility Festival, when all gas burning vehicles will be barred from Kaohsiung's historic Hamaxing neighborhood.

Kaohsiung Deputy mayor Hsu Li-ming says the mini buses are more like a "flexible rail system", offering fixed route shuttle services along city streets.

This will provide passengers with greater convenience, without the large costs of building expensive infrastructure systems.

A "win-win" for commuters and local governments.