Didi Launches Hybrid Dispatch Model for Robotaxis in Guangzhou’s Huangpu, Offering 24/7 Fully Autonomous Service

Didi provides mobility services in China and 14 other countries, serving over 50 million passengers daily on average. Its autonomous driving business has adopted a hybrid dispatch model: after users enter their origin and destination in the Didi app, the system determines—based on regulatory and technical conditions—whether to assign an autonomous vehicle. If conditions aren't met, the ride is dispatched through the conventional ride-hailing model. This hybrid model has already been implemented in Huangpu District, Guangzhou, offering 24/7 fully driverless Robotaxi services. The pilot operation zone covers Huangpu’s core living areas, including high-frequency destinations such as subway stations, schools, shopping malls, office buildings, and residential communities. Users can hail an autonomous vehicle via the autonomous driving entry point in the Didi app or select both autonomous driving and ride-hailing options simultaneously when entering a trip on the app’s homepage. The system intelligently matches vehicles by considering factors like pickup/drop-off locations, road conditions, dispatch distance, and real-time supply-demand balance of nearby vehicles. When picked up by an autonomous vehicle, passengers can unlock the car door via the app interface or have it automatically unlocked upon approaching the vehicle. During the ride, they may freely change their destination or request a temporary stop at a safe location. Should assistance be needed, passengers can instantly connect with remote customer support through a one-touch button on the in-vehicle screen.