Elon Musk’s big bet on robotaxis will eventually be was announced Thursday afternoon, Pacific time. That’s one long roadwith the billionaire promising fully automated cars from 2016 and a robotaxi network from 2019. So far, Tesla only offers assisted driving, but a supervising driver is still required at all times.
But Tesla has been behind the robotaxi competition – much of it based in China, one of America’s largest auto manufacturing markets. most important market. Several Chinese technology companies and startups have tested fleets of self-driving cars in cities such as Guangzhou, Wuhan and Beijing with approval from the city government.
Guangzhou-based WeRide, founded in 2017, already operates commercially in China. Autonomous vehicle startup Pony.ai, which counts Toyota as one of its backers, already has a license to operate commercial robotaxis in major Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Big tech companies are also getting involved. Internet giant Baidu, through its Apollo Go service, offers completely driverless trips in the cities of Wuhan, Beijing, Chongqing and Shenzhen. The company offers self-driving cars with safety drivers in other locations.
According to Baidu’s most recent earnings report, the service provided nearly 900,000 trips in the second quarter of 2024, up 26% year-on-year.
Chinese robotaxi suppliers are also looking to take their models abroad.
WeRide is available license operates its robotaxis in the UAE since the beginning of 2023. Last month, the startup announced partnered with Uber, where the ride-hailing app agreed to offer WeRide’s robotaxis service on its platform. The partnership will begin later this year.
The company also have a license to test robots in Singapore.
Baidu is in discussions with foreign automakers and ride-sharing platforms about taking its services abroad. Nikkei Asia report cited sources familiar with the matter. the Wall Street Journal also reported that Baidu hopes to deploy Apollo Go in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Middle East. Baidu did not immediately respond luck request comment.
Pony.everyone is the same according to the report Explore markets in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East to launch automated taxi services.
Pony.ai has a memorandum of understanding with ComfortDelGro, the leading company transport operator in Singapore. ComfortDelGro CEO Cheng Siak Kian speak in time The memorandum of understanding signed in July states that the partnership will enable the two parties to explore large-scale commercial robo-taxi operations in China and subsequently in ComfortDelgro’s key international markets .
Chinese startups are also testing their robotaxis in the United States, specifically in the state of California, which has a program specifically for companies to test their on-road robotaxis.
California promulgate WeRide issued a license in August allowing its test vehicles to carry passengers with or without a driver for three years. WeRide will not be allowed to offer rides to the public or charge any fees.
Tesla self-driving cars in China
Beijing is said to have given Tesla is expected to launch Full Self-Driving – a driver assistance service – in China after Musk made the decision surprise trip to the country in April.
A few weeks after the visit, state media reported that Musk has asked Beijing to allow Tesla to test driver assistance software on its robotaxis, possibly in Shanghai, home to one of Tesla’s Gigafactories.
Tesla announced that it plans to launch Fully self-driving cars in China by Q1 2025.
Sales of American car manufacturers Chinese-made electric cars increase in price According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, it increased 19.2% in September, compared with the same month last year.
Data sheet: Stay at the forefront of the business of technology with insightful analysis of the biggest names in the industry.
Register here.
