China's robotaxi push: Can it replicate its EV success?
Chinese companies are expanding their robotaxi operations globally, challenging established players like Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet. Waymo currently leads the commercial sector, operating paid driverless services in several US cities. Amazon-owned Zoox and Tesla are also expanding, but more cautiously. Uber, which abandoned its own autonomous vehicle development after a fatal accident in 2018, now partners with Chinese firms to gain access to millions of customers.
These partnerships allow Chinese companies to scale quickly, according to Tu Le, founder of consultancy Sino Auto Insights. He notes that through such collaborations, firms can commercialise and broaden their reach without building their own apps from scratch.
While Chinese manufacturers benefit from lower production costs, Waymo has invested years in customer service and app technology. Le, who has experienced various robotaxi services, says the user experience with Waymo is superior to competitors like WeRide and Pony.ai, and that Waymo is becoming a standard mode of transport in California.
Perceptions of robotaxis differ by market. In the US, unions warn that autonomous vehicles could displace taxi, delivery, and freight drivers. In China, the government presents automation as a solution to a shrinking workforce, but state censorship makes it difficult to gauge public opinion.
President Xi Jinping has promoted AI and robotics as part of China's drive to develop 'new quality productive forces', aiming to create jobs and boost economic growth. This creates incentives for companies to invest and expand.
Proponents argue that robotaxis could improve mobility for the elderly and disabled, especially if costs become comparable to or lower than traditional ride-hailing. 'If we can bring the cost down... it really helps broaden mobility,' says Le.
