China’s Expanding Robotaxi Fleet Raises Both Excitement and Concerns

China’s streets are witnessing a futuristic transformation as driverless taxis, also known as robotaxis, become a more common sight. These autonomous vehicles, cruising past office buildings and shopping malls, are sparking mixed reactions among the public—ranging from wonder to wariness.

Wuhan, a major city in central China, is at the forefront of this technological push, boasting one of the world’s largest networks of self-driving cars. Over 500 robotaxis now navigate the city’s roads, a sharp increase from just five vehicles when the project began. The taxis are part of Baidu’s Apollo Go project, which first received licenses to operate in Wuhan in 2022. Initially, the service was limited to a 13-square-kilometer area, but it now covers more than 3,000 square kilometers, including parts of the city center.

“It looks kind of magical, like a sci-fi movie,” a local resident named Yang told AFP, reflecting the sense of awe that some people feel when encountering these driverless vehicles. However, not everyone shares Yang’s enthusiasm.

Concerns about safety have surfaced, particularly after a fatal accident in April involving a Huawei-backed Aito car, where the automatic braking system failed. More recently, a minor collision between a jaywalker and a Wuhan robotaxi has reignited these worries.

Traditional taxi drivers are also feeling the pressure. “They are stealing our rice bowls, so of course we don’t like them,” Wuhan taxi driver Deng Haibing told AFP, using a popular Chinese phrase to express concern about losing his livelihood. Deng fears that robotaxi companies will eventually dominate the market by undercutting traditional taxis with subsidized fares, only to raise prices later—a tactic reminiscent of ride-hailing apps in the 2010s. “Currently, the impact isn’t too big because robotaxis aren’t fully popularized and can’t drive everywhere yet,” Deng added.

The robotaxi fleet in Wuhan remains a small fraction of the city’s tens of thousands of traditional taxis and ride-hailing cars. However, the trend is gaining momentum across China, with cities like Chongqing and Shenzhen launching their own self-driving pilot programs as part of a broader national push for technological supremacy.

Despite the rapid expansion, experts caution that the technology is still in its infancy. Tom Nunlist, a tech policy analyst at Trivium China, expressed skepticism about the widespread adoption of autonomous vehicles. “Everybody seems to think autonomous driving is inevitable at this point, and frankly, I don’t know that it is,” he told AFP. “Presently fully autonomous driving tech is simply not ready for large-scale deployment.”

Even with the advanced capabilities of Wuhan’s Apollo Go taxis—such as obstacle detection and remote monitoring—human oversight remains essential. During a ride in an Apollo Go car, a remote safety officer had to remind passengers to fasten their seatbelts via the car’s touchscreen. The app assures users that “Safety personnel provide strong assurances for your ride via remote 5G assistance technology.”

Moreover, robotaxis are currently unable to replicate the personal touch that human drivers provide. “Some customers have disabilities and (driverless cars) definitely wouldn’t be able to help them, and some passengers are carrying large items,” a ride-hailing driver named Zhao explained to AFP. “Only a human can help.”

As China’s robotaxi fleet continues to grow, the country faces the dual challenge of ensuring safety and addressing the societal impacts of this emerging technology. Whether these autonomous vehicles will become a ubiquitous part of daily life remains an open question.