The robotaxi market is seeing increasing competition between the US and China. Both countries are actively developing technologies and implementing their solutions in major cities.
Statistics and Company Achievements
According to data published by CNBC, Waymo, owned by Alphabet, now operates over 1,500 robotaxis in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, handling more than 250,000 paid rides weekly. Meanwhile, Tesla is just beginning its operations with a launch in Austin.
Chinese Companies Impact the Market
Using data from Barclays, the number of robotaxis in China stands at around 2,000, mainly operating in major cities. Barclays predicts that by 2030, this number could rise to 300,000, covering about 5% of demand for transport in major urban areas. Pony AI, the only robotaxi operator authorized to charge fares in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, claims that each vehicle completes an average of 15 rides per day.
Prospects and Market Differences
While Waymo is just getting started abroad with a launch in Japan, Chinese companies have already actively spread their operations. WeRide claims it is the only company with permits for autonomous driving in several countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Baidu has also announced the launch of its Apollo Go robotaxis on the Uber platform, with rollout plans for Asia and the Middle East by 2025.
Competition between US and Chinese companies in the robotaxi sector continues to grow. Both countries are expected to strive for technological improvements and increase the scales of their operations, leading to interesting changes in the market.
