The world’s most extensive experiment with driverless cars is currently taking place in Wuhan, China. This city of 11 million people, with 4.5 million vehicles, extensive highways, and iconic bridges across the Yangtze River, is serving as a testing ground for autonomous vehicle technology.
A fleet of 500 computer-controlled taxis operates in Wuhan, often without a human safety driver. The company, Baidu, plans to expand this robot taxi service by adding an additional 1,000 vehicles. Across China, at least 16 cities have authorized companies to test autonomous vehicles on public roads. Furthermore, at least 19 Chinese automakers and their suppliers currently compete to achieve global leadership. No other nation is progressing as rapidly in this field.
The Chinese government is offering considerable support to these companies. Beyond designating specific areas for on-road testing, the government also limits public discussion of safety incidents and crashes to mitigate public concerns regarding this emerging technology.
According to surveys by J.D. Power, an automotive consulting firm, Chinese drivers seem more inclined than Americans to trust computers to drive their vehicles. Zhang Ming, the owner of a small grocery store near Wuhan’s Qingchuan Pavilion, a frequent stop for Baidu robot taxis, stated, “I think there’s no need to worry too much about safety — it must have passed safety approval.”
