China’s autonomous vehicle (AV) sector is accelerating rapidly. With a carefully orchestrated combination of policy support, cutting-edge technology, and ambitious testing programs, the nation is laying the groundwork for a nationwide autonomous vehicle network—integrating robotaxis, smart infrastructure, and robust regulations. In this article, we explore the current progress, major players, policy frameworks, technological infrastructure, and what’s next in China’s journey toward fully autonomous mobility.
2. Policy & Testing Infrastructure: Building the Foundation
In the lead-up to 2025, China has made major strides building infrastructure to support autonomous vehicles. The government designated 20 cities as pilot zones to create roadside infrastructure and cloud-based control platforms for smart connected vehicles. S&P Global. As of mid-2024, over 32,000 km of roads were opened for AV testing and 16,000+ test licenses issued nationwide S&P Global.
Several cities have become AV hotspots:
- Wuhan hosts nearly 500 Baidu Apollo Go autonomous taxis (with supervisors) and aims to deploy 1,000 robotaxis by end-2024 S&P Global.
- Guangzhou boasts 933 testing roads (~1,980 km), including expressways, and operates 50 autonomous buses covering 10 routes—completing over 525,000 trips and serving more than 1 million passengers S&P Global.
- Beijing opened over 1,160 km of trial roads, with 384 vehicles from 18 companies approved for automated shuttles S&P Global.
- Shanghai has opened 1,003 roads (over 2,000 km) for AV testing and issued licenses for robotaxi operation by Baidu Apollo, AutoX, Pony.ai, and SAIC AI Lab S&P Global.
These developments reflect a national framework aligning test zones and regulatory pathways to scale autonomous mobility.
3. Leading Players & Commercial Rollout
Baidu – Apollo Go
Baidu’s Apollo Go is among the most advanced robotaxi networks. It completed over 1.4 million rides in Q1 2025, elevating its global ride tally to more than 11 million by May en.people.cn. Its RT6 robotaxi—purpose-built, Level-4 vehicle with full redundancy—costs under USD 30,000 thanks to a battery-swapping design, lowering barriers to scale The Verge. Additionally, Baidu secured pilot approval for Hong Kong operations and signed a deal with Lyft to expand into Europe (Germany and Britain) starting in 2026 Wikipediaen.people.cn.
WeRide
WeRide is also rapidly expanding both domestically and internationally. Building a 24/7 autonomous Robotaxi network in central Guangzhou—including major hubs like the airport and central stations—marks the first of its kind in China Medium. Internationally, it launched AV services in Riyadh and AlUla (Saudi Arabia), and is partnering with Uber to deploy robotaxis in 15 cities globally, backed by a USD 100 million investment Business Insideren.people.cn.
Pony.ai
Pony.ai is testing autonomous trucks on the Beijing–Tianjin route (with safety drivers), and in April 2025 partnered with Tencent Cloud to advance its AV tech Wikipedia. Analysts estimate it could reach profitability by around 2029 Wikipedia.
Didi & GAC Aion
Didi Global, via its joint venture Andi with GAC Aion, plans to begin mass production of Level-4 robotaxis (electric crossover) as early as 2025 Motor1.com—creating a major leap in accessible AV manufacturing.
Zeekr (Geely)
Zeekr unveiled the electric SUV Zeekr 9X equipped with L3-ready autonomous driving (G-Pilot system), to be delivered in H2 2025, subject to regulatory approval Reuters.
4. Regulations & Standards: Enabling Scale
China has released forward-looking guidelines enabling robotaxi operation with remote monitoring: fully driverless taxis can operate without onboard safety drivers in designated areas with a maximum ratio of one remote operator per three vehicles Reddit. Nonetheless, Level-3 and Level-4 passenger vehicles still require safety personnel aboard, though freight vehicles may operate point-to-point via highways Reddit.
This layered framework helps balance safety and innovation, encouraging scaled deployment in controlled environments.
5. Outlook: Toward a Nationwide AV Ecosystem
China’s AV ecosystem is rapidly expanding—supported by robust testing infrastructure, major players scaling commercial operations, and evolving regulations. The question now isn’t if, but when AVs become a mainstream mode of transportation.
Success hinges on:
- Cost efficiency, as seen with Baidu’s under-USD 30,000 robotaxi model.
- Operational scale, like WeRide’s around-the-clock network in Guangzhou.
- Policy support, progressive guidelines allowing remote robotaxi operations.
- Global expansion, demonstrated by WeRide and Baidu’s international moves.
If trends hold, China may emerge as the leading model for large-scale, integrated autonomous mobility—setting benchmarks that global markets will watch closely.
6. Conclusion
China is well on its way to launching a nationwide autonomous vehicle network. With companies like Baidu, WeRide, Pony.ai, Didi, and Zeekr deploying robotaxis and smart mobility technologies across major cities—and with regulatory and infrastructure scaffolding in place—the stage is set. This strategy blends urban test zones with technological innovation and institutional backing, marking a transformative moment in transportation.
Watch for:
- Robotaxi fare drops
- Vehicle cost reductions
- Policy evolutions around remote operations
- International deployments
The autonomous future is arriving—and China may well lead the way.
