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Thomas Yau

Chinese tech companies, such as Baidu’s Apollo Go, have rolled out driverless robotaxis in major mainland cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan and Shenzhen.
The South China Morning Post’s Thomas Yau tried one out in Shanghai to see if the days of human drivers are truly numbered.


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China technology

What is it like to ride in China’s AI-driven robotaxi?

Photo: SCMP

In Wuhan, driverless taxis offer a peek into the future of intracity transport in China

Illustration: Henry Wong

A Baidu Apollo Go self-driving car picks up a passenger in Wuhan, Hubei province, July 12, 2024.  Photo: Coco Feng

An Apollo Go car, the self-driving ride-hailing service of Baidu, takes to the road in Wuhan, Hubei province, July 12, 2024. Photo: Coco Feng

A safety operator sits in the driver’s seat of an Apollo Go robotaxi as the vehicle travels to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport in Wuhan, July 13, 2024. Photo: Coco Feng

An Apollo Go driverless car on the road in Wuhan, July 12, 2024. Photo: Coco Feng

Shanghai to put driverless robotaxis on roads despite pushback from taxi drivers in Wuhan

A Baidu Apollo RT6 robotaxi on the road in Wuhan, China, May 15, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg

A monitor shows the real-time location of the vehicle as a ‘safety driver sits in an Apollo robotaxi during a media tour at Baidu’s Apollo Park in Beijing, April 22, 2022. Photo: Getty Images

A pedestrian flies a kite in front of buildings in Pudong’s financial district in Shanghai, Feb. 19, 2024. Photo: Bloomberg

Baidu robotaxis draw complaints from human drivers as service gains popularity

A Baidu Apollo Go robotaxi seen in Wuhan. Photo: Reuters

News

China

Tech

Pilot service has sparked debate about the merits of the driverless transport system and concerns about job security for drivers


Pilot service has sparked debate about the merits of the driverless transport system and concerns about job security for drivers.


Climate change science and technology

Future tech

Technology

Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles

Video | What is it like to ride in China’s AI-driven robotaxi?

Pilot service has sparked debate about the merits of the driverless transport system and concerns about job security for drivers