Xpeng’s Vice Chairman Predicts Slow Rollout of Self-Driving Taxis: A Look at the Future of Autonomous Transportation

Recently, the Xpeng G9 was showcased at a mall in Beijing, attracting many curious onlookers. During the event, Xpeng Vice Chairman and Co-President Brian Gu made a statement that self-driving taxis are not expected to become a significant business for at least the next five years. This prediction goes against Elon Musk’s vision of Tesla developing artificial intelligence software for a robotaxi network.

Despite the promising future of robotaxis in mobility, Gu believes that establishing a full-fledged commercial operation will take longer than anticipated. He announced that Xpeng is not currently planning to launch this service. The company, known for its electric cars, has positioned itself as a leader in driver-assist technology in the market.

Gu highlighted the importance of extensive testing before implementing any autonomous driving services. He noted that other Chinese tech companies like Baidu and Pony.ai have received approval in certain areas of China to operate fully driverless taxis and charge fares. Locations like Beijing and Wuhan are seen as hubs for testing new technologies in the autonomous driving sector.

In conclusion, while self-driving taxis may be an exciting prospect for the future of transportation, it seems that they may not become mainstream anytime soon according to Xpeng’s Vice Chairman and Co-President Brian Gu. However, with ongoing testing and development by companies like Baidu and Pony.ai, it is possible that we may see more fully autonomous vehicles on our roads in the coming years.