‘Look, no hands’: China chases the driverless dream at Beijing car show | Self-driving cars

A.There were hundreds of manufacturers, more than 1,000 vehicles, hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts and almost no one behind the wheel at the world’s largest auto show, which opened in Beijing on Friday.

China’s auto companies have captured the domestic electric vehicle market and become increasingly visible on the global stage. They are now turning their attention to what they believe is the future of mobility: autonomous driving.

The country’s automakers showcased a range of smart driving technologies at the Beijing Auto Show, a huge industry event covering 380,000 square meters on the outskirts of the capital.

In China’s cutthroat domestic market, nearly every major automaker is investing heavily in the software and computing power needed to make “hands-free” driving a reality as they compete to offer additional benefits and find new ways to generate revenue.

Telecommunications group Huawei this week announced it would invest up to 80 billion yuan (£8.7 billion) over the next five years to develop autonomous driving software and computing power.

“The fact that almost every automaker has some version of smart driving makes it different from almost every market in the world,” said Tu Le, managing director of consultancy Sino Auto Insights.

Le said the Chinese market is so competitive that selling passenger vehicles domestically is no longer a viable way for Chinese companies to make money. Additional benefits, such as renting AI-powered software, are needed to increase revenues.

EV maker

Xiaomi’s artificial intelligence-supported operating system, a device and phone manufacturer, allows drivers to make restaurant reservations, take notes and order coffee while driving. It can also detect when drivers seem stressed or agitated and adjust the lights and music when they arrive home.

Domestic car sales in China have fallen sharply in recent months. The number of passenger vehicles sold in China fell 17 percent in the first three months of this year as the government phased out its subsidy program.

BYD, the leader in China’s electric vehicle industry and seen as a pioneer of the industry, reported that its sales have fallen for seven consecutive months.

Meanwhile, China’s exports increased by more than 60% in the first quarter.

Chery, China’s largest automobile exporter, has recently set its sights on the UK market. Since its launch in the UK in August 2025, it has become one of the country’s fastest-growing car brands, with 13,500 cars sold between September 2025 and March 2026.

On Friday, the company announced it aims to increase its global annual sales target from 5 million in 2025 to 10 million by 2030. Farrell Hsu, Chery’s UK country director, said: “This outstanding growth underlines Chery UK’s position as a key contributor to overall business growth by 2030.”

The focus on overseas sales was clear at the show, with automaker Geely announcing plans to deploy thousands of driverless taxis worldwide next year through its ride-hailing arm Caocao. Chinese companies want to compete with US robotaxi companies such as Waymo, which have proven successful in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Robotaxis has already been rolled out in many Chinese cities, but their widespread adoption has been limited by regulatory hurdles as well as technical hurdles.

Last week the government opened public consultation on a proposed new set of safety standards for autonomous cars. There are no nationwide guidelines, and Beijing has been cautious about allowing driverless vehicles unrestricted access on roads.

Last month, several of Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis stopped in the middle of the road in Wuhan, stranding drivers for hours.

However, Chinese robotaxis are expected to be seen on the streets of London this year, with Lyft and Uber announcing a partnership with Baidu to use autonomous driving software.

Facing tariffs in major markets such as the US and EU, Chinese automakers are focusing on smaller markets such as the UK and Canada to replace units.

The UK is attractive to Chinese companies because it is seen as “culturally agnostic” about allowing Chinese electric vehicles to be used on roads, while other countries block them on national security grounds, an industry professional said.

One in 10 new cars sold in the UK by 2025 is expected to be produced by Chinese companies.

In February, Chery launched its fourth brand in the UK. Hsu said the company was “actively evaluating options for manufacturing and R&D facilities in the UK.”