Geely Siapkan Ribuan Robotaxi Global Mulai 2027, Tantang Langsung Tesla Cybercab

JAKARTA - The global competition for autonomous vehicles has entered a new phase. Caocao Inc, a ride-hailing company owned by Chinese automotive group Geely Holding, announced ambitious plans to deploy thousands of specially designed robotaxis starting in 2027.

This aggressive move is seen as a direct challenge to Tesla, which is developing the Cybercab, an autonomous vehicle specifically for future transportation services.

Caocao CEO Gong Xin told Reuters at the Beijing Auto Show that the delivery and large-scale operation of Geely's robotaxi called Eva Cab is projected to begin in 2028.

He added that the fleet would grow rapidly to reach 100,000 units by 2030. "Production, delivery, and implementation will take place almost simultaneously," said Gong Xin.

In the initial phase, Eva Cab will start operating in Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and five cities in mainland China next year. This strategy places Geely as one of the most aggressive players in the global driverless car race.

Unlike the majority of current robotaxis which are only modifications of mass vehicles, Eva Cab is built from scratch as a pure autonomous vehicle. The cabin design has also been completely overhauled.

The storage space is made simpler, without closed door pockets, to minimize the risk of passengers leaving personal belongings. In addition, this vehicle is not equipped with a luxurious interior or a high-powered motorcycle, so that the production cost can be suppressed.

According to Gong, the price of the robotaxi is even potentially lower than a private car, although he did not reveal the exact figure. This approach gives Geely an advantage in cost optimization and large-scale operational efficiency.

Caocao itself was founded in 2015 as a Geely-owned shared mobility platform. The company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in June 2021 and recorded its first quarterly adjusted net profit in the fourth quarter of last year.

As the second largest ride-hailing platform operator in China after Didi, Caocao is considered to have a strategic position for global expansion. Gong is even optimistic that the company will be one of the three or four robotaxi players that survive in China by 2030.

"Caocao has a huge advantage," he said, referring to the synergy with Geely Holding's international expansion.

This push for robotaxi expansion comes amid fierce competition in China's automotive industry, which is now moving quickly towards autonomous technology and mobility services. Other manufacturers such as Xpeng also do not want to be left behind.

Xpeng President Brian Gu said his company will likely produce hundreds to thousands of robotaxis in the next 12 to 18 months.

However, Xpeng's initial focus is still on manufacturing, while they are still looking for operational partners to build a global robotaxi business.

On the other hand, Tesla continues to prepare the Cybercab as a future autonomous vehicle. Tesla CEO Elon Musk previously stated that Cybercab production would increase gradually before finally soaring sharply.

Tesla is targeting the vehicle to replace modified consumer cars in its driverless fleet.

The entry of Geely, Xpeng, and Tesla into the robotaxi arena shows that the future of the automotive industry is no longer just about selling cars, but dominating the mobility ecosystem.

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