Wuhan, a central city in China, has become a hub for driverless taxis, with over 500 autonomous vehicles operating in its streets. This development has sparked both fascination and apprehension among the public. Chinese tech companies and automakers, including Baidu and Huawei, have invested billions of dollars in self-driving technology to compete with industry leaders in the United States.
While some locals find the sight of these robotaxis passing through regular traffic “magical,” concerns about safety persist. In April, a Huawei-backed Aito car was involved in a fatal accident, raising questions about the reliability of its automatic braking system. Last month, a minor collision between a jaywalker and a Wuhan robotaxi reignited safety concerns.
Additionally, taxi drivers and workers in traditional ride-hailing companies fear being replaced by artificial intelligence, although the technology is still in its early stages. The current impact on traditional drivers is limited, as robotaxis are not yet fully popularized and cannot operate everywhere. However, there are concerns that subsidized fares offered by robotaxi companies may lead to the displacement of traditional drivers, followed by price hikes once they dominate the market.
Wuhan’s driverless taxi fleet, part of Baidu’s Apollo Go project, initially started with just five vehicles operating in a 13 square kilometer area. However, it has expanded to cover a patch of 3,000 square kilometers, more than a third of Wuhan’s total land area. In comparison, Waymo, a leader in the US, covers an area of 816 square kilometers in Arizona.
To use the service, passengers scan a QR code with their phones to unlock the vehicle, with the front seats blocked off for safety reasons. Currently, fares are heavily discounted, but concerns remain about the long-term impact on traditional drivers’ livelihoods.
While Chinese cities are increasingly promoting self-driving services as part of a national push for tech supremacy, experts believe that fully autonomous driving technology is not yet ready for large-scale deployment. Safety measures still rely on human officers remotely monitoring rides, and the ability of driverless cars to assist passengers with disabilities or handle specific situations is limited.