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Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles

Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Semi-autonomous cars with L3 technology are likely to spur sales on the mainland next year. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s approval for L3 self-driving cars to stimulate slowing mainland market

Chinese carmakers could sell about 270,000 semi-autonomous vehicles next year, representing 1 per cent of the total market, Daiwa says.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD ups the ante on L3 autonomous cars, begins testing for mass production

Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng, Li Auto given approval to test ‘hands-off’ L3 cars amid slowing market

Electric & new energy vehicles

Beijing approves first L3 autonomous cars in leap towards ‘hands-off’ driving

The cars, both pure EVs, can only navigate urban streets and highways in designated areas, according to the ministry.

The Baidu-BAIC Arcfox robotaxi is seen on the road. Photo: Shutterstock Images
China technology

Chinese robotaxi firm Pony.ai bets on ‘asset-light’ strategy for growth

Firm sees working with partners as the best way to expand service in the mainland and beyond.

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United States

‘Unusual activity detected’: US woman gives birth in Waymo self-driving taxi

The mother and child arrived safely at a San Francisco hospital, and the vehicle was taken out of service for cleaning.

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China manufacturing

Germany’s China playbook: if you can’t beat them, partner up

More than half of surveyed German firms plan deeper ties with local partners in China to match the rapid innovation cycles of domestic competitors, the German Chamber of Commerce has found.

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Robot arms are seen at work on a car production line at a factory of FAW-Volkswagen in eastern China’s Shandong province on March 12. Photo: AFP
Robotics

Xiaomi hires engineer from Tesla’s Optimus team to lead robotic hand development

Zach Lu Zeyu joins Xiaomi as lead of its dexterous hand research and development operations.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Volkswagen revs up designed-in-China approach to catch up in EV market

Carmaker says mainland operations can now design and validate new models without approvals from Germany, reducing development time and cost.

Science

Chinese team cuts laser weapon, EV part production time from 1 hour to 1 second

High-intensity heating and cooling method speeds up creation of sought-after electrical component.

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Employees work on an electric vehicle production line at a factory of Chinese automaker NIO in Hefei, in eastern China’s Anhui province on September 24, 2025. Photo: AFP
Xiaomi

Xiaomi open-sources AI model spanning autonomous driving and robotics

EV and AI initiatives have become an increasingly important part of Xiaomi’s business.

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A Xiaomi car seen outside the company’s electric vehicle factory in Beijing. Photo: AFP
Made in China 2025

Chinese EV makers accelerate robotics drive for ‘game-changing’ edge over US

Xpeng, Cherry and others expand beyond cars, with humanoid robot Iron winning praise from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Baidu

China’s Baidu posts 50% rise in AI revenue despite third-quarter slump

In spite of sluggish advertising, AI operations provide ‘a solid foundation for sustainable long-term growth’, Baidu CFO He Haijian says.

Sovereign wealth fund

Singapore’s Temasek invests in WeRide, Pony.ai to boost China tech holdings

Temasek’s latest deals reflect the 51-year-old investment giant’s focus on forward-looking technologies.

Temasek Holdings invests around US$13.7 million in combined shareholdings in WeRide and Pony.ai. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Tesla, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz win China’s approval to deploy AI chatbots in cars

China has approved the first foreign carmakers to roll out in-vehicle AI assistants, opening the door for wider adoption.

Domestic brands have been rushing to register their own AI services to gain a competitive edge over foreign brands. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s car industry preps for next-level self-driving: Hesai

Use of advanced hardware will pick up next year, with some carmakers already adopting it to ‘pre-empt rivals’, CFO says.

Huawei

Huawei’s Ascend-powered CloudMatrix platform tops biennial tech innovation list

The system can support up to tens of thousands of interconnected chips to train and run AI models.

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Artificial intelligence

CaoCao tailgates WeRide into the UAE as flag comes down on China’s driverless race

WeRide wins UAE go-ahead for driverless taxis as CaoCao joins the race in the Middle East.

WeRide driverless cars are set be operating commercially in Abu Dhabi by the end of the year. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

Volkswagen bets on EV developed with Xpeng to regain ground in China

The ID Unyx 08 has received government approval to begin production and is expected to enter the market in 2026.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla and global carmakers race against Chinese EV rivals at expo

At CIIE, global brands like Tesla and Volkswagen are under pressure to win back market share from local competitors.

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IPO

China’s WeRide drives for ‘ubiquitous’ robotaxis after Hong Kong listing

Founder and CEO Tony Han says listing proceeds will help company expand globally as analysts predict robotaxi growth.

Tony Han, founder and CEO of WeRide (at microphone), speaks at the company’s listing ceremony at the headquarters of bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing in Central on November 6, 2025. Photo: Nora Tam
IPO

4 Chinese firms’ listing debuts mark busy day for Hong Kong stock exchange

Pony.ai, WeRide and Ningbo Joyson fell at the opening bell, while Vigonvita Life surged.

Executives of Ningbo Joyson Electronic, Pony.ai, Vigonvita Life Sciences and WeRide participate in a gong-striking ceremony to mark the listings of their companies on the Hong Kong stock exchange on November 6, 2025. Photo: Nora Tam
Automotive industry

Video | Pony.ai set to further open China’s autonomous-driving frontier

Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai is poised to be dual-listed in Hong Kong on November 6, 2025.

IPO

Nothing in Pony.ai’s way as firm lists in Hong Kong: CEO James Peng

Hong Kong listing broadens investor base as the autonomous-driving company expands robotaxi services in mainland and abroad, founder says.

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Semiconductors

Volkswagen to make own chips in China for locally made autonomous vehicles

‘We are moving beyond localised production to mastering the core technologies that shape tomorrow’s mobility,’ VW China CEO says.

Horizon Robotics founder Yu Kai (left), VW China CEO Ralf Brandstatter, VW chairman Oliver Blume and Peter Bosch, CEO of VW’s automotive software firm Cariad pose with a makeshift semiconductor model in Shanghai on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s Xpeng touts driverless cars with Alibaba’s Amap to take on Tesla

Company promises three robotaxi models, a humanoid robot and flying cars leveraging a new vision-based AI model.

He Xiaopeng, Xpeng’s chairman and CEO, introduces the company’s robotaxis at the company’s headquarters in Guangzhou, in southern China’s Guangdong province, on November 5, 2025. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong gives green light to test driverless cars on mega bridge, in Kai Tak

Baidu Apollo International and Airport Authority cleared to pilot autonomous vehicles on designated routes from November 7, authorities say.

IPO

China’s Pony.ai, WeRide file for Hong Kong IPOs in milestone for driverless tech

The filings come after both firms secured regulatory approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission earlier this month.

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