Robotaxis and the New Silk Road: China’s Driverless Tech Hits the Gulf
Forget Detroit vs. Shenzhen. China’s robotaxis are leapfrogging straight to Riyadh and Dubai, turning the Middle East into ground zero for the next mobility revolution.
While the West argues over permits, China’s robotaxi giants, Apollo Go, Pony.ai, and WeRide, are quietly wiring the Gulf for the future of transport. With the U.S. market politically fraught, the Middle East offers both a regulatory welcome mat and a tech-friendly audience.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are setting bold targets, like 15% AV public transport by 2030, while Uber, once the disruptor, now rides shotgun in China’s cars. Of course, fragmented roads, cultural nuances, and trust in AI still challenge scale.
But at $30K–$50K per vehicle, these robotaxis massively undercut U.S. rivals.
- Apollo Go aims 1,000 robotaxis in Dubai
- WeRide & Pony.ai partner with Uber
- Gulf states embrace AVs faster than U.S.
As old empires debate ethics, new ones move quietly, efficient, data-rich, and cost-controlled. The question isn’t whether China will win outside America but how soon it scales. Are we watching a mobility coup unfold?
Read the full article on Wall Street Journal.
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