China

Autonomous vehicle developments across China.

An XPENG GX, the sport utility vehicle on which the YOYO robotaxi is built, in a showroom in April 2026. File photo.

XPENG Wins Approval for Citywide Robotaxi Trial Operations in Guangzhou

The qualification lets the Chinese automaker run Level 4 robotaxi trials across its home city. Rides stay invitation-only for now, and XPENG says it aims to carry passengers without safety drivers next year.

Li Wei, China desk · Oct. 26, 2026

An Apollo Go RT6 robotaxi on Heping Avenue in Wuhan, China, in December 2025. File photo.

Baidu and Lyft's Freenow Plan Driverless Robotaxi Rides in London in 2027

The companies have been testing Apollo Go's RT6 with safety operators in the borough of Brent since July. Freenow says it is working with Transport for London and talking about tens of vehicles in the next year or two.

Li Wei, China desk · Oct. 25, 2026

An Apollo Go autonomous test vehicle with a backup operator at the wheel near an aircraft maintenance area in Hong Kong in November 2025. File photo.

Baidu's Apollo Go Begins Free Public Robotaxi Trial Rides in Hong Kong's Tung Chung

The two-week trial on a 5.1-kilometer loop from Yat Tung Estate is the first time Hong Kong residents can ride the company's autonomous cars in a residential town. A backup operator stays in the driver's seat.

Li Wei, China desk · Oct. 21, 2026

A Verne robotaxi carrying Pony.ai and Uber branding on a street in Zagreb, where the companies already run service. File photo.

Uber, Pony.ai and Verne Begin Testing Robotaxis in Manchester

Uber said Pony.ai's seventh-generation robotaxis, run with the Croatian operator Verne, are now testing in the city, six days after the companies named London. They did not say how many cars are on the road, whether a safety driver is aboard or when riders can book.

Li Wei, China desk · Oct. 14, 2026

Three XPENG robotaxi vehicles on a public road in China.

XPENG Opens Invitation Registration for YOYO Robotaxi Rides in Guangzhou

The Chinese automaker named its robotaxi service XPENG YOYO and opened invitation-code sign-ups so people outside the company can apply to ride in Guangzhou, after more than 2,000 internal trips and a remote road-test permit.

Li Wei, China desk · Oct. 9, 2026

A robotaxi carrying Verne, Uber and Pony.ai branding outside the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb, where the companies already run service. File photo.

Pony.ai Says It Will Start Testing Robotaxis in London With Uber Within Weeks

The Chinese company said its seventh-generation robotaxis are coming to London through its Uber partnership, joining Wayve and Baidu's Apollo Go on the city's streets. It did not say how many cars, who will run them or when riders can book.

Li Wei, China desk · Oct. 8, 2026

A WeRide robotaxi offered on Uber near Ferrari World on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, in May 2025. File photo.

UAE Expects More Than 10,000 Autonomous Taxis and Delivery Vans on Its Roads Next Year

Faisal Al Bannai, an adviser to the UAE President, said orders for the vehicles have already been placed and that the country would become the largest deployer of autonomous taxis and vans outside China.

Harper Quinn, Live desk · Oct. 6, 2026

A Verne robotaxi carrying Pony.ai and Uber branding drives along a street in Zagreb.

Uber Has Invested in Croatian Robotaxi Company Verne, Its Chief Executive Confirms

Marko Pejković confirmed the stake a week after Uber's Dara Khosrowshahi rode a Verne robotaxi with no safety driver in Zagreb. Neither company has disclosed the size or terms.

Li Wei, China desk · Oct. 5, 2026

Momenta's headquarters building in Suzhou, China, in 2023. File photo.

Momenta Plans Robotaxis in Dubai Next Year and a Fleet of Several Thousand by End of 2027

The Mercedes-backed Chinese company has more than 100 robotaxis in three countries and is in talks with a few European cities, the head of its robotaxi business told Reuters.

Li Wei, China desk · Oct. 4, 2026

Look, Don't Ride: Tesla Parks Cybercab in China With No Sale, No Robotaxi

Tesla China said Cybercab static displays in Beijing and Shanghai do not involve selling the vehicle or launching driverless ride-hailing in the country.

Li Wei, China desk · Sept. 17, 2026

Gen-4 L4 Robotruck on GAC T9 at IAA Transportation

Hardware Cut 70%: Pony.ai and GAC Unveil Gen-4 L4 Robotruck at IAA

Pony.ai showed a Gen-4 Level 4 heavy truck on GAC Commercial Vehicle's T9 electric platform at IAA Transportation 2026, with autonomous-kit costs down 70% and volume production due later this year.

Noah Park, Freight · Sept. 16, 2026

Verne robotaxi with Pony.ai and Uber branding on a Zagreb street

Empty Front Seat: Pony.ai and Verne Open Europe's First Fully Driverless Rides

Invited passengers can take fully driverless robotaxi test rides on public roads in Zagreb, the first such passenger service in Europe with nobody in the driver's seat.

Li Wei, China desk · Sept. 16, 2026

A black WeRide GXR robotaxi with Uber branding on a Madrid street.

Spain's First L4 Ticket: WeRide, Uber and AVOMO Cleared for Madrid Roads

Spain's Directorate General of Traffic issued the country's first national Level 4 permit for passenger AVs, covering 20 WeRide GXR vehicles in Greater Madrid under the ES-AV framework.

Sam Okonkwo, Robotaxi · Sept. 10, 2026

A purpose-built silver-white robotaxi with a roof lidar bar on a Chinese city avenue.

DiDi Starts Driverless Trials of Next-Gen R2 in Beijing and Guangzhou

DiDi Autonomous Driving opened fully driverless service trials of its R2 robotaxi, built with GAC Aion, for bookings in selected demonstration zones via the DiDi app.

Li Wei, China desk · Sept. 3, 2026