Rise of Robotaxis: China's Bold Drive Towards Autonomous Vehicles

Ride-hailing drivers in China face looming job disruption as authorities rapidly approve robotaxi trials. Companies like Apollo Go, WeRide, and Pony.ai are leading this charge, promising thousands of autonomous taxis on the streets. While technology advances, concerns over employment and safety persist, sparking debate among economists and industry experts.

Liu Yi, a 36-year-old part-time ride-hailing driver in Wuhan, foresees another crisis as driverless taxis gain popularity. Competing against robotaxis from Apollo Go, Liu worries about the future of ride-hailing drivers, saying, 'Everyone will go hungry.'

Baidu and China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology did not comment on the issue. Globally, ride-hailing drivers are among the first to face job loss from AI, with robotaxis hitting Chinese streets. Economists and industry experts warn that the technology, though still experimental, poses a real threat.

China is aggressively pushing robotaxi trials compared to the slower, more scrutinized U.S. At least 19 Chinese cities are running tests, with seven approving trials without human-driver monitors. Apollo Go plans to deploy 1,000 robotaxis in Wuhan by year-end and expand to 100 cities by 2030. Despite safety concerns, fleet approvals continue, driven by economic goals set by President Xi Jinping. The impact on jobs, however, remains a contentious issue, as seen in the sharp rise of social media discussions on the topic.

(With inputs from agencies.)