Tesla's imminent robotaxi will have the worst rivals you could imagine: the ones China is already developing

A few days ago we learned that the affordable Tesla that Elon Musk promised years ago would no longer come true. Instead, the tycoon has decided to redirect that idea and take advantage of it for a future robotaxi that will feature the next August. Now we know that your company will have competition. A fierce one.

Didi, for her robotaxi. The company Didi, considered the Chinese Uber, has announced a joint venture called Andi with the electric car manufacturer GAC Aion. In fact, the alliance has received a license that represents the official approval of the Chinese government for the mass production of electric and autonomous robotaxis for that country.

The first model will be an SUV. This initiative will have as its inaugural model a car in SUV format. It will produce the first batch of vehicles in 2025, and will thus begin a striking path in a sector that has been waiting for its particular revolution for years and that seems to have recently been encouraged by Tesla's announcement.

Level 4 autonomy. At GAC Aion they talk that this project will allow them to “lead the creation of a commercial route [con autonomía] level four. This was stated by Zhang Xiong, its general director, who did not specify which specific authority had issued that license for the manufacture of these vehicles.

Millionaire investment. Andi's project began last year when Didi's autonomous driving division received an investment of $149 million from two companies, one of which was precisely GAC Aion.

From word to deed… The goal of offering robotaxis goes back a long way, and companies like Waymo or Cruise have been struggling for years to be successful. They have faced many criticisms, enormous challenges and chaotic situations, but the real obstacle remains technological: the autonomous driving necessary for the mass implementation of these vehicles is still not within our reach.

Baidu is also in the spotlight. In China they also seem to be especially interested in this segment, and almost a year and a half ago Baidu proposed its own autonomous transport platform – with theoretical level four of autonomous driving -, Apollo Go, in the city of Wuhan. Months later the company he turned the first in China to offer driverless transfers to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport.

Very gradual rollout. The Tesla or Didi advertisements are striking, but the implementation of these vehicles in cities is being carried out with lead feet to avoid accidents and possible tragedies. In New York, for example, a few days ago a new type of permit for companies that would like to offer this type of trips in autonomous vehicles: for the moment all of them will have to have an auxiliary driver “at the wheel” even if the car operates as an autonomous vehicle.

Image | Volvo

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