Can China repeat its EV success with robotics?

Chinese companies are expanding globally, and fast. Their biggest business competitors are in America.

Waymo, Alphabet’s robotaxi business, continues to be the business leader in operating paid driverless services in several US cities. Amazon-owned Zoox and Tesla are expanding cautiously, while Uber has abandoned development of its own autonomous vehicles. In the year He had a fatal accident in 2018.

Uber and competitor Lyft are now partnering with Chinese companies.

“If you create your own app, you won’t be able to reach millions of customers who don’t have it,” said Tu Le, founder of Sino Auto Insights, a consultancy.

“Through these partnerships, they can trade and expand their horizons.”

Although Chinese companies can produce more cheaply, Waymo has spent years developing expertise in customer service and app technology.

“Having experienced Waymo and WeRides and Ponys… I have to say that Waymo’s user experience is much better than the other competitors. I feel that Waymo is becoming the standard form of transportation for California,” Tu Le says.

Attitudes also vary across markets.

Unions in the US have warned that robotaxis could displace taxi, delivery and truck drivers.

China’s policymakers tout automation as a solution to its shrinking workforce, but the government’s censoring of dissenting voices makes it difficult to gauge public opinion.

President Xi Jinping has touted AI and robotics as part of China’s efforts to develop “new, high-quality productive forces” – one that will create jobs and boost economic growth.

And there are incentives and disincentives for companies to invest in and expand the technology.

One of the industry’s arguments is that autonomous vehicles can improve mobility for people who cannot easily drive themselves.

“If we can make the cost of a robotaxi ride as cheap — or maybe even cheaper — than lauding Uber with a traditional driver, it will help expand mobility,” says Le. “The elderly, the disabled — these robotaxis really allow for more mobility.”