Wuhan, a central hub in China's Hubei Province, is at the forefront of the robotaxi revolution. The city's autonomous ride-hailing service is experiencing a significant surge, with daily peak orders exceeding 20 per vehicle, rivaling traditional taxi volumes. This growth has been reported by multiple media outlets, citing the local government's news center account, \"Hubei Release.\"
Baidu's Apollo Go, an autonomous ride-hailing platform, is at the heart of this boom. Keywords related to Apollo Go have dominated Weibo, China's popular social media platform, making it into the top 10 trending topics. This surge underscores the platform's pivotal role in driving new tech growth, as highlighted by Financial Times columnist June Yoon.
While the business boom is impressive, it brings forth questions about safety, the impact on the traditional taxi and ride-hailing industry, and the broader implications for urban transportation. Yin Ying, the general manager of Baidu's automotive robot department, compared the safety of Apollo Go's sixth-generation autonomous vehicles to that of China's domestically produced C919 large passenger aircraft, assuring a robust safety architecture capable of Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving.
Since May, Baidu has deployed its latest autonomous driving vehicles in Wuhan, equipped with advanced AI models and hardware. The current fleet primarily consists of Baidu's fifth-generation autonomous vehicles, \"Apollo Moon,\" developed with China's electric vehicle brand Arcfox. In Wuhan, there are two types of robotaxis: fully driverless models supervised remotely and those manned by human drivers, adhering to the Ministry of Transport's guidelines.
Baidu reports that its autonomous driving program has accumulated 100 million kilometers without any major casualty incidents. However, a recent minor accident in Wuhan's Hanyang District involved an autonomous taxi and a pedestrian, resulting in no significant injuries. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety of autonomous transportation.
Wuhan's reputation as the \"Chinese Motor Valley\" contributes to the city's embrace of robotaxis, supported by a strong automotive industry and technological innovation. Apollo Go has deployed over 400 self-driving vehicles in Wuhan, covering more than 3,000 square kilometers and serving a population of 7.7 million. In certain areas, the service operates 24/7.
Online discussions reveal that consumers are attracted to robotaxis for their competitive pricing, quality service, and comfortable interiors. Zhang Junyi, partner at global consulting firm Oliver Wayman, anticipates a growing consumer base embracing these innovative rides, reflecting Chinese consumers' enthusiasm for new experiences.
Reference(s):
Wuhan leads China's embrace of robotaxis. What's behind the surge?
cgtn.com
