China's drivers on robotaxis

China's ride-hailing industry is experiencing a significant shift towards autonomous vehicle technology, with companies like Baidu's Apollo Go leading the charge in deploying robotaxis. As these driverless vehicles become more commonplace, traditional drivers, such as Liu Yi from Wuhan, express deep concerns about job security, predicting widespread unemployment among ride-hailing drivers. Currently, at least 19 Chinese cities are conducting robotaxi trials, with seven allowing operations without human-driver monitors. Baidu plans to introduce 1,000 robotaxis in Wuhan by the end of this year and expand to 100 cities by 2030, while Pony.ai aims to add 1,000 more autonomous vehicles by 2026. This rapid advancement contrasts sharply with the cautious approach seen in the U.S., where regulatory scrutiny often delays such initiatives. The situation raises crucial questions about the balance between technological innovation and the livelihood of millions of drivers in China.