Trying China's robotaxi in Wuhan

A fully autonomous taxi drives 19 kilometers from Donghu High-Tech Development Zone in eastern Wuhan to the bustling Yangtze River waterfront. Korea Times phot by Lee Hye-mi

On a quiet morning in Wuhan, China, a white, driverless vehicle slows to a stop in front of a waiting passenger. A cheerful voice announces, “Welcome aboard Luobo Kuaipao. Please fasten your seatbelt and tap ‘Start’ on the screen.”

With no driver inside, the doors unlock after a quick QR scan, and the backseat welcomes its new occupant — no steering wheel, no human, just software and sensors.

This is Baidu’s fully autonomous robotaxi service, known as Luobo Kuaipao locally and Apollo Go in English, which has become a common sight on the streets of Wuhan — now China’s largest autonomous driving test zone. The name Luobo Kuaipao literally means “robots run fast.”

The service operates about 400 vehicles locally, part of a state-backed pilot initiative to bring self-driving technology into daily life.

Autonomous tech takes hold in Wuhan

In Wuhan, one of China’s most overpass-laden cities, the robotaxi glided seamlessly from Donghu High-Tech Development Zone to the bustling banks of the Yangtze River, covering 19 kilometers.

It navigated elevated expressways, tight roundabouts and chaotic streets teeming with bicycles and scooters. At one point, it braked for a cyclist riding the wrong way and honked at a vehicle trying to cut in without warning.

The ride, which cost just 33 yuan (about $5), was heavily discounted from its usual 92 yuan fare as part of a promotional strategy to build a customer base. Despite some sudden stops and starts, the vehicle performed impressively. After completing its route, it idled briefly before departing again, summoned by another user via app.

Baidu says the service has completed over 10 million rides and logged 150 million kilometers as of March, with no serious accidents. The company claims its safety record is 14 times better than that of human drivers.

Still, limitations remain. While the app claims a 3,000-square-kilometer coverage area, actual operational zones are restricted. A previously touted route across the Yangtze River was temporarily halted during the visit, and long-promoted airport routes were not in operation due to internal system issues.

Other autonomous services are also proliferating. Dongfeng WeShare runs driverless sightseeing buses for tourists and major delivery firm Zhongtong Express has deployed unmanned logistics vehicles to transport parcels from distribution centers to apartment complexes.

A Luobo Kuaipao vehicle pauses after completing its route in downtown Wuhan on May 12. Korea Times photo by Lee Hye-mi

A self-driving ecosystem

Wuhan’s rise as China’s autonomous driving hub is no accident. Since its 2019 designation as a National Pilot Zone for Smart Connected Vehicles, the city has received comprehensive policy and financial support from central and local governments. Regulations implemented in March under Wuhan’s Smart Connected Vehicle Promotion Ordinance now provide legal backing for road testing and innovation, resolving previous barriers to outdoor trials.

On May 13, at the Wuhan headquarters of Huawei-backed startup Huarizixing, vice president Ren Xuefeng demonstrated the company’s smart road technology — a key pillar of China’s autonomous strategy. Their system connects vehicles, infrastructure and cloud services, enabling real-time sharing of road conditions. At 125 kilometers of roads in Wuhan, Huarizixing’s systems can now calculate traffic signal changes, helping vehicles decide whether to proceed through intersections without stopping.

Ren explained, “With our in-vehicle terminals and city traffic data, we can not only support navigation but even control the timing of traffic lights. It’s all made possible through public-private cooperation and government funding.”

Nearby, software engineer Dong Yong of Guangting Information Technology Company described an office complex housing six or seven firms specializing in autonomous driving. He called it “the world’s first industrial ecosystem for smart connected vehicles,” where companies openly collaborate and share resources. “About 80 percent of technical issues can be solved internally here,” he said.

This collaborative environment is backed by a deep talent pool. Wuhan is home to 42 universities, including Wuhan University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology, as well as 56 major research institutes. With over 300,000 technical experts and more than 800,000 university students, the region offers one of China’s strongest concentrations of automotive and engineering talent.

“Beijing and Shanghai may have more general talent, but when it comes to automotive engineering, Wuhan is unmatched," Ren noted.

A playbook for industrial strategy

Wuhan’s self-driving boom reflects China’s broader model for industrial growth under the “Made in China 2025” initiative: The government lays the groundwork, companies invest and innovate, and human capital clusters around opportunity. More than 100 key companies in autonomous tech are now based in Wuhan, with over 200 firms in related sectors such as renewable energy and smart mobility.

From smart roads and driverless taxis to unmanned delivery vehicles, the city is becoming a real-world testbed for the next generation of mobility — not just for China, but for the global autonomous driving industry.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.