Chongqing- Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are key to transforming and upgrading the automotive industry, and their commercialization is a development benchmark. In a recent interview with Bridging News, Yoav Haimi, Minister Counselor and Head of the Trade and Investment Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Beijing, China, said that China holds a leading position in this field.

Yoav Haimi, Minister Counselor, Head of Trade and Investment Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Beijing, China. (Photo/ Yoav Haimi)

Chongqing's terrain provides an ideal testing ground for AVs

Haimi stated that China’s robotaxis are advancing urban transportation. Apollo Go's fully driverless operations in cities like Wuhan, Chongqing, Shenzhen, and Beijing highlight China's leadership in the global AV race. Testing AVs on real urban roads is crucial for commercialization.

Wuhan has over 3,378 kilometers of open test roads for intelligent connected vehicles, covering about 3,000 square kilometers—larger than five San Franciscos. Wuhan is the world's largest autonomous driving service area and has the highest number of regularly operating AVs.

Foreign delegates experienced autonomous vehicles. (Photo/Li Xinyi)

Haimi highlighted Apollo Go's operations in Yongchuan, Chongqing, noting its pioneering achievements: it's the first city in China to offer fully driverless commercial demonstration operations, to implement commercial operations for autonomous driving, to launch self-driving buses, and to open its entire administrative region for autonomous driving.

He added that Chongqing's unique topography and weather conditions, including frequent fog, require robust sensing and decision-making systems. This challenging environment provides an excellent testing ground for developing autonomous vehicles that can operate in diverse conditions globally.

Haimi also emphasized that China's AVs can conduct commercial tests on complex urban roads due to technological advancements in cars, roads, and cloud systems. China has made significant achievements in these areas.

For example, in the car part, the SE1000, China’s first automotive-grade seven-nanometer chip, has improved perception systems and decision-making algorithms, enhancing prediction and response to complex traffic scenarios.

An autonomous bus operates on the Chongqing High-tech Industrial Development Zone road. (Photo/Chongqing High-tech Zone)

Infrastructure development is crucial for cities to build smart systems that support large-scale AV operations. China's first comprehensive closed-loop testing ground for intelligent connected vehicles, the Yangtze River Delta (Yancheng) Testing Ground, began operations recently. It features the world's first and only real tunnel scenario within a closed testing facility.

Additionally, advancements in the Beidou Navigation Satellite System and 5G infrastructure have enabled precise localization and data transmission, even in urban canyons with limited signals, enhancing vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.

He concluded that the commercialization of AVs requires not only technological accumulation across various fields but also a complex system necessitating collaboration across diverse technological domains.

Israel’s mobility tech boosts Chinese efforts in weather detection

Haimi noted that despite China's AV leadership, international collaboration is essential in the global automotive and tech industries. This technological leap showcases Chinese innovation and highlights the potential for global partnerships in urban mobility.

Countries with strong tech sectors, like Israel, could contribute significantly. Known as the "Start-Up Nation," Israel excels in mobility technology and could complement Chinese efforts, especially in addressing challenges like weather detection.

He noted that achieving full implementation faces hurdles, including evolving regulatory frameworks. China has stringent regulations requiring AV enterprises to preprocess in-car information to ensure it isn't personal data before collection. However, technological advancements could recover preprocessed data, necessitating stricter oversight.

The Chinese Civil Code hasn't addressed AVs specifically, requiring local regulations based on regional conditions. Responsible parties might evade liability by claiming technological neutrality, highlighting the need for stronger regulations.

He highlighted that public acceptance requires transparent communication and proven safety records. As robotaxi services expand beyond geofenced areas, managing mixed traffic—where autonomous and human-driven vehicles interact—will be essential.

With the widespread commercialization of robotaxis, ride-hailing driver unemployment is expected to increase, which could threaten social stability. This will test China's social governance capabilities.