China Embraces Unmanned Robotaxis... Citizens Tolerant Despite Traffic Disruptions [Autonomous Driving Cedes Ground to China]

Baidu Robotaxi Commercialization Accelerates in China
Unmanned Vehicles Allowed Up to 70 km/h in Urban Areas
South Korea Restricts Unmanned Testing to 50 km/h
Harsh Social Perceptions of Technological Failure
Biggest Obstacle to Regula

In June, when I called a Baidu robotaxi in Pingshan District, Shenzhen, China, it took less than 10 minutes for a robotaxi equipped with a lidar on its roof to stop in front of me. To board the Chinese robotaxi, which has no driver, a separate approval process not required for regular taxis was necessary, such as entering a password or scanning a QR code sent to my smartphone. Since it was my first time, it took quite a while to figure out how to board. During this time, the robotaxi, stopped on one side of the road, disrupted the flow of traffic, but surprisingly, the Chinese drivers waiting behind patiently waited without complaint. This was due to the public perception in China, where robotaxis have become commonplace.

Once the robotaxi began operating, it could not drive at full speed. Since it only picked up and dropped off passengers at designated points, it often blocked the flow of other vehicles. Each time this happened, citizens quietly changed lanes to pass by. In contrast, when taking a regular taxi with a driver, even a brief delay in departure would prompt sharp honking. Citizens of Shenzhen seemed to regard robotaxis not simply as a means of transportation but as a new technology, accepting the inconvenience as part of daily life for the sake of progress. A representative from a Chinese automaker explained, "Shenzhen citizens are usually known for driving aggressively, but they tend to be much more tolerant of robotaxis on the road. There is a shared understanding that inconvenience must be endured for technological advancement."

Baidu unmanned autonomous taxi operating in Pingshan District, Shenzhen, China. Photo by Woo Suyeon

Chinese autonomous driving company Baidu began commercializing the operation of unmanned robotaxis at 'Level 4' autonomy in August 2022. They started making money with driverless autonomous taxis, and as they became more common, regulations were relaxed in some urban areas to allow speeds of up to 70 km/h. In contrast, in South Korea, robotaxis operating in Gangnam, Seoul, must have a safety officer on board, and even if permission is granted for unmanned test operations, regulations prevent them from exceeding 50 km/h.

The level of social acceptance for autonomous driving and the speed of regulatory relaxation are not only influenced by the willingness to endure inconvenience but are also closely linked to the issue of determining liability in the event of an accident. In China, the responsibility and compensation for accidents involving fully unmanned autonomous vehicles (Level 4 and 5), as well as criminal liability, have not been clearly established. Instead, major local governments have introduced ordinances that clearly specify the primary responsibility lies with the vehicle owner or manager. This has enabled the rapid launch of commercial unmanned robotaxi services in major cities. In addition, over the past few years, China has chosen to have the government step in to resolve incidents involving autonomous vehicles, rather than holding manufacturers or managers individually liable.

A Baidu unmanned autonomous taxi operating in Pingshan District, Shenzhen, China. The autonomous taxi is driving by itself without a driver in the driver's seat. Photo by Woo Suyeon

In South Korea, for unmanned autonomous vehicles used for testing and research purposes, the operator (manager) is held primarily responsible in the event of an accident. Temporary operation permits require strict adherence to safety requirements, and insurance is mandatory. However, there are no clear regulations regarding liability for accidents involving unmanned vehicles operating for commercial purposes. As a country with a positive regulatory system, South Korea cannot begin commercial operations in the absence of relevant regulations.

Of course, the South Korean government cannot simply follow the example of the Chinese government, which operates under a communist system. However, the Korean autonomous driving industry points out that excessively harsh social perceptions of technological failure have become an obstacle to regulatory relaxation. An industry representative said, "Even in China, regulations on autonomous driving are becoming stricter following a recent accident involving a Xiaomi vehicle's highway Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Nevertheless, the level of regulation is still much more relaxed than in Korea, and consumer preference for such vehicles remains steady."