Driverless taxis displace drivers in Wuhan — Baidu shifts to AI
A significant milestone in urban transportation occurred in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Since August 2023, one of the city’s largest taxi operators — Baidu — has fully transitioned to using driverless vehicles, effectively displacing traditional driver-operated taxis.
Baidu, which runs the Apollo Go platform, announced the completion of its transition to fully autonomous customer service in Wuhan. Now, the overwhelming majority of trips within the city are carried out by driverless cars. Rides are ordered via a mobile app, and the vehicles operate on pre-approved routes using artificial intelligence, 5G technology, and cloud-based navigation.
The city government supported the experiment as part of a national initiative to develop intelligent transportation systems. Wuhan has become a pilot city for deploying driverless solutions in major Chinese metropolises. Authorities claim this transition improves safety, reduces congestion, and optimizes urban transportation costs.
Industry analysts note that such a rapid transition was made possible by significant investment and strong government support. A key factor was the city's high-density digital infrastructure, enabling stable operation of the AI-powered fleet.
This trend has already had a noticeable impact on taxi drivers. Many traditional drivers were forced to leave the market or switch to other professions. While a mixed model still exists in other Chinese cities, Wuhan demonstrates what could be the future of the entire sector.
Baidu’s success in Wuhan may pave the way for broader adoption of driverless transport systems in other cities across China and beyond. In the coming years, similar services are expected to expand in metropolises with advanced telecommunications infrastructure.
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