China's autonomous driving tech forges inroads into global markets

It has also teamed up with Auto-Go, a UAE-based autonomous mobility solutions company, with the goal of deploying the largest fully driverless fleet in Abu Dhabi. Initial trials of dozens of autonomous vehicles will be conducted in select areas of the city, with phased expansion ahead of full commercial operations by 2026.

"China is taking the lead in the R&D and application of self-driving technology, and the accelerated expansion of Chinese self-driving companies abroad will propel the commercialization of the state-of-the-art technology on a global scale," said Zhang Xiang, a visiting professor at the engineering department at Huanghe Science and Technology University.

Zhang said authorities in the Middle East and some European countries have a relatively open attitude toward autonomous driving and are promoting the testing and use of robotaxis thanks to technological advancements and cost reductions.

"Chinese self-driving enterprises have strong technical prowess and have accumulated extensive testing and operational experience in the domestic market, so they are eager to play a bigger role in the international autonomous driving sector by leveraging their technological advantages," he said, adding there is an increasing demand for self-driving vehicles in overseas markets.

Emphasizing that ensuring the safety and stability of self-driving vehicles remains a top priority, Zhang called for efforts to improve testing and application scenarios overseas, continuously optimize algorithms, strengthen road infrastructure construction, and reduce the manufacturing costs of driverless vehicle components.