After years of planning and investment, robotaxis are finally hitting the road in China. Accidents and the impact of self-driving vehicles on employment remain concerns, but the government remains committed to developing the industry into a global leader.
Pony.ai's L4-level AI autonomous driving car experience at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China, July 28, 2025. Credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images
In Nanshan, the Shenzhen district where Tencent, DJI and other technology giants are headquartered, a growing fleet of driverless robotaxis now run alongside other vehicles. A twenty-minute ride can cost passengers as little as 13 yuan ($1.86).
https://youtu.be/uCRuU8XvSwg?si=dvOUE1KZ-SMp9Q8w
Footage from inside a Pony.ai robotaxi. Credit: Pony.ai
Inside the robotaxis, the sprightly voice of the virtual driver, Popo, reminds passengers to fasten their seatbelts. The steering wheel turns b
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