Foshan's Autonomous Taxi Trial Sparks Debate: Safe but Inefficient

Recently, trial operations of autonomous taxis in cities like Foshan, Guangdong, have drawn public attention. A passenger shared a video online complaining that the vehicle drove so slowly that a trip normally taking half an hour had still not reached its destination after one hour. The passenger also noted being unable to change the route or exit the vehicle en route, which caused them to be late for work. While acknowledging the autonomous vehicle’s “safety-first” principle and appreciating features like a sense of security and customizable music options, the passenger expressed dissatisfaction with its inefficient performance. Although autonomous taxi services have already launched in multiple regions and boast advanced technology, they continue to face challenges in real-world applications—such as low efficiency and limited flexibility—highlighting the gap between the public’s high expectations for new technologies and their actual user experience.