A giant catfish has entered the robotaxi track.
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Author | Wang Xiaojuan
Editor | Chai Xuchen
Caocao Mobility has bigger ambitions in Robotaxi.
On December 3rd, Caocao Mobility announced a strategic upgrade in the Robotaxi sector. CEO Gong Xin announced the "Ten Years, Hundred Cities, Hundred Billion" strategic goal: over the next ten years, five major operation centers will be established globally, Robotaxi service will be expanded to one hundred cities, and a cumulative transaction value of one hundred billion will be achieved.
Specifically, Caocao Mobility set out its "three-step" Robotaxi strategy for the first time: The initial stage focuses on technology verification and small-scale test operations; the current stage will complete the transition from a safety driver in the main seat to fully unmanned operations, while exploring mixed operations with manned and unmanned driving; in the future, fully customized Robotaxi models will be commercially operated worldwide.
Gong Xin stated that in the Robotaxi 2.0 phase, Caocao Mobility will further enhance the automated operation capabilities of large-scale fleets, launch a remote safety service platform, and fully apply digital asset management systems, deeply integrating operational advantages with smart cabins and intelligent driving technology to achieve a closed loop for unmanned Robotaxi operation.
Currently, Caocao Mobility positions its strategy as a "trinity" development model of "intelligent customized vehicles + intelligent driving technology + intelligent operation."
This model integrates Geely Holding Group’s vehicle R&D and manufacturing capabilities, Caocao Mobility’s own operational platform and accumulated data, as well as ecological partners’ intelligent driving technology, forming a closed loop of all elements for Robotaxi.
At the same time, Caocao Mobility has begun implementing future-oriented urban transportation hubs, with the world's first "Green Intelligent Mobility Island" officially launched.
An Conghui, CEO of Geely Holding Group, stated: "Caocao Mobility is not only Geely Holding’s technology mobility platform, but also the most important carrier for the commercialization of Robotaxi operations."
The Green Intelligent Mobility Island here is not a simple charging station or car park, but a forward-looking construction of future urban mobility infrastructure. This hub integrates functions such as automated battery swapping, automated cleaning, in-vehicle tidying, intelligent scheduling, and automated settlement.
Notably, the mobility island has reserved eVTOL take-off and landing pads and charging interfaces, laying the foundation for future "air-ground integrated" transportation networks. Caocao Mobility has developed replicable construction standards for this, planning to promote them in future cities.
Shenzhen Yuejiang Technology’s embodied intelligence humanoid robot Atom has joined the Green Intelligent Mobility Island as part of the first batch of "intelligent employees," undertaking roles such as welcoming guests and Robotaxi operation and maintenance. This highlights the island’s innovation in automated operation and maintenance.
The Green Intelligent Mobility Island will enable seamless docking of Robotaxi with Wofei Changkong’s eVTOL, with Spacetime DaoYu’s low Earth orbit satellite network providing comprehensive communications coverage and high-precision location data dissemination, jointly constructing a "land-sky-space integrated" mobility blueprint.
It is worth mentioning that recently, Caocao Mobility and Qianli Zhijia signed a strategic cooperation agreement to deepen collaboration in the Robotaxi sector, jointly accelerating the large-scale application and commercialization of intelligent driving technology. This will further enhance Caocao Mobility’s competitiveness in the Robotaxi sector.
Currently, the Robotaxi market is shifting from "technical feasibility verification" to "replicable commercial expansion." Industry data shows the tipping point for Robotaxi commercialization has arrived, and the sector is starting to enter the profitable stage.
Moreover, major players are accelerating their global layouts. Waymo currently operates a fleet of about 1,500 vehicles in four U.S. cities, planning to add another 2,000 vehicles by 2026. Caocao Mobility and other players also have a presence in Abu Dhabi.
It is clear that competition in the Robotaxi sector has surpassed the pure algorithm or hardware layer, entering a full-element battle involving intelligent customized vehicles, driving technology, and operational systems.
Goldman Sachs predicts that the Robotaxi market in China will reach $47 billion by 2035. Gong Xin estimates that by 2035, there will be 1.9 million Robotaxis in operation in China, with the market size exceeding 320 billion yuan.
Cost control has become the key to profitability. Through its customized vehicle plus vehicle service solutions, Caocao Mobility has reduced the average TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of its customized vehicles by 36.4% compared to typical pure electric vehicles on the market. This ability to optimize costs is crucial to large-scale commercialization.
The timetable for profitability is becoming clearer. Pony.ai CEO Peng Jun once said, "The break-even point will probably be around 2028 or 2029."
Worldwide, more than 1,500 Robotaxis are already providing unmanned driving services on city streets. Technology, policy, and market forces are propelling Robotaxi from science fiction into reality.
With traditional automakers, tech companies, and mobility platforms all increasing their efforts, a competition for the future mobility leadership has begun.
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