@car_news · Post #365 · 03/08/2024, 06:02 PTG
🚗China’s Robotaxi dreams spark economic anxiety over AI’s threat 📰 Bloomberg reports that in Wuhan, more than 500 electric robotaxis from Baidu are already on the streets, with plans to add another 1,000 by the end of the year. This strengthens the position of Baidu and other Chinese companies in competing with Waymo and Tesla, whose unveiling of prototypes has been delayed. The development of unmanned cabs is in line with President Xi Jinping's strategy to promote high-tech in China's economy, reducing reliance on the real estate sector and low-quality exports. ⁉️ However, the rapid adoption of the technology has its drawbacks. Residents of Wuhan have expressed dissatisfaction with the Apollo Go-branded robotaxis, noting that they cause traffic jams by driving too cautiously. The cabs have been dubbed "stupid radishes" because of their slow movement and indecisiveness in difficult traffic situations. An experiment with unmanned cabs in Wuhan could help China become a leader in the field, but also threatens thousands of people with job losses. @CarsNews #innovations#EV#robotaxis#driverlesscars