China has emerged as a global powerhouse in autonomous vehicle technology, with robotaxis becoming an increasingly common sight on streets across major cities. Two Stanford-connected experts with over three decades of combined experience in automated driving have published a comprehensive guide to experiencing China’s AI-powered robotaxi services firsthand.
The country’s three largest robotaxi developers—Baidu Apollo, Pony.ai, and WeRide—are all publicly traded on Nasdaq and actively pursuing expansion beyond China into Europe and the Middle East. Baidu Apollo, the automated driving unit of Baidu (often compared to Alphabet/Google), operates under the brand “萝卜快跑” (Apollo Go), which cleverly sounds like “robot” in Chinese. Unlike many competitors, Baidu uses remote drivers rather than just remote assistants, enabling some of its robotaxis to operate on freeways without safety drivers—a capability Waymo only recently achieved in the US.
Five major Chinese cities offer the most robust robotaxi experiences: Beijing (the capital), Shanghai (financial hub), Wuhan (dubbed China’s “Chicago”), and Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the tech-heavy Guangdong province. However, unlike Waymo’s comprehensive coverage in San Francisco or Phoenix, Chinese robotaxi services are generally confined to pilot zones covering only portions of each city.
Wuhan represents Baidu’s stronghold, where ubiquitous Apollo robotaxis have become a reliable commuter option, including airport connections. The experts note that locals joke Baidu chose Wuhan because the city’s human drivers are “notoriously bad.” Beijing’s Yizhuang area offers variety with all three major companies operating, while Shanghai’s vast geography requires strategic planning to access different service zones.
Practical barriers exist for Western tourists: US citizens need advance travel visas (though many European countries now enjoy visa-free short visits), and a mainland Chinese phone number (+86) is essential for registering with robotaxi apps. The apps themselves present challenges—most are Chinese-only, may not display available vehicles until you’re physically in service areas, and require manual service area updates in settings.
Despite these hurdles, the authors emphasize that China’s robotaxis represent the future of autonomous transportation and are “well worth the trip” for anyone interested in AI-driven mobility. The technology isn’t perfect, but it’s ahead of most of the world, with ordinary commuters already relying on these services for daily transportation.
Key Quotes
Locals like to say that Baidu chose Wuhan because the city’s notoriously bad human drivers. At this point, the city’s ubiquitous Apollo robotaxis probably offer China’s best example of an automated vehicle service that ordinary commuters rely on.
The authors describe Wuhan’s robotaxi ecosystem, highlighting how AI-powered autonomous vehicles have transitioned from experimental technology to essential transportation infrastructure that residents depend on for daily commutes and even airport connections.
China’s robotaxis aren’t perfect, but they’re ahead of most of the world — and well worth the trip.
Bryant Walker Smith and Sven Beiker’s concluding assessment after extensive testing across multiple Chinese cities, emphasizing that despite imperfections, China has achieved a level of autonomous vehicle deployment that surpasses most global competitors.
Unlike many of its competitors, Baidu sometimes uses remote drivers rather than mere remote assistants. Perhaps as a result, Baidu already sends its robotaxis on some freeways without safety drivers inside.
The experts highlight a key technological and operational difference in Baidu’s approach to autonomous driving, which has enabled the company to achieve fully driverless highway operation—a milestone Waymo only recently reached in the United States.
Our Take
This article reveals a critical blind spot in Western understanding of the global AI race. While American media obsesses over Tesla’s unfulfilled promises and Waymo’s careful expansion, China has quietly built a functioning autonomous vehicle ecosystem serving real commuters across multiple cities with populations exceeding many entire US states.
The operational differences are telling: Baidu’s use of remote drivers (not just assistants) represents a pragmatic middle ground between full autonomy and safety, enabling faster deployment. The confinement to pilot zones, rather than Waymo’s city-wide coverage, suggests a different regulatory philosophy—controlled experimentation at scale.
Most significantly, the fact that ordinary Chinese citizens already rely on robotaxis for daily transportation indicates these aren’t just tech demonstrations but viable commercial services. This real-world validation gives Chinese companies invaluable data and operational experience that could prove decisive as autonomous vehicles expand globally. Western competitors may find themselves playing catch-up in markets where Chinese AI driving technology has already proven itself.
Why This Matters
This comprehensive guide reveals China’s significant lead in deploying commercial autonomous vehicle technology at scale, challenging Western assumptions about the global AI race. While much attention focuses on Waymo and Tesla in the United States, Chinese companies have quietly built extensive robotaxi networks serving millions of residents across multiple megacities.
The practical integration of AI-powered transportation into daily commuter life in cities like Wuhan demonstrates a maturity level beyond experimental phases. This has profound implications for the global autonomous vehicle industry, suggesting that Chinese AI companies may have advantages in real-world deployment and regulatory navigation that could translate into international competitiveness.
For businesses and policymakers, understanding China’s approach to AI regulation, remote operation models, and phased geographic rollouts offers valuable lessons. The fact that these companies are already Nasdaq-listed and pursuing international expansion means Western markets may soon face direct competition from battle-tested Chinese autonomous vehicle technology, reshaping the future of transportation and urban mobility worldwide.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ultimate-guide-for-taking-a-robotaxi-in-china-2026-2