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Beijing to Support Introduction of Robotaxis Amid Rising Popularity and Concerns
Beijing has announced its support for the integration of robotaxis into ride-hailing and car rental services as advanced driver assistance systems become increasingly prevalent in China. Draft guidelines released by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology specify that autonomous vehicles should feature drivers or safety officers on board, or be able to intercept remotely while operating. Additionally, it mandates that any traffic infractions be managed according to local laws and regulations. The public has been invited to offer feedback on these guidelines.
Despite a burgeoning interest in autonomous vehicles, existing robotaxi fleets in other Chinese cities, such as those operated by Baidu Inc.’s Apollo platform in Wuhan, are meeting resistance. Traditional taxi drivers are expressing concerns over the potential loss of jobs due to the cheaper operating costs of these autonomous cars. Local residents have also raised issues, including traffic congestion and accidents, with one incident recently leading to a police investigation. Nonetheless, Baidu’s shares saw an increase, indicating growing support for its robotaxi service, Apollo Go.
Meanwhile, Tesla Inc. is set to launch its own robotaxi next month, on August 8. CEO Elon Musk had previously introduced the concept to investors in 2019. In a recent, unpublicized visit to China, Musk secured provisional approval from Chinese officials for deploying Tesla’s advanced driver-assistance system in the country, the world’s largest auto market. However, it remains uncertain whether these automated cars will be considered “qualified operators” under Beijing’s forthcoming regulations. This month also saw Tesla’s locally manufactured cars included on a provincial government procurement list, suggesting a reduction in China’s longstanding safety apprehensions concerning the foreign automaker.
Although Tesla's driver-assistance features still require user vigilance, the company has faced multiple challenges. In the U.S., Tesla recalled millions of cars and contended with numerous lawsuits related to crashes involving its driver-assistance system, which is sold as an add-on and has struggled to meet revenue expectations.
