Geely’s Caocao to deploy thousands of fully customised robotaxis in 2027
Large-scale delivery and deployment of the Eva Cab is expected in 2028 before the fleet expands to 100,000 by 2030: CEO of ride-hailing arm
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[BEIJING] Caocao, the ride-hailing arm of Chinese automaker Geely, plans to deploy thousands of robotaxis globally in 2027, its CEO said on Friday (Apr 24).
This sets up a potential rivalry with Tesla’s Cybercab.
Large-scale delivery and deployment of the Geely-made purpose-built robotaxi Eva Cab is expected in 2028 before the fleet expands to 100,000 by 2030, Caocao CEO Gong Xin told Reuters during the Beijing car show.
The Eva Cab will initially be put on the roads of Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and five mainland Chinese cities in 2027, he said, adding that production, delivery and deployment will be almost simultaneous.
The purpose-built robotaxi features a reconfigured cabin with simplified storage and no enclosed-door pockets, reducing the risk of passengers leaving belongings behind.
Gong said, without disclosing the exact price, that the cost of the driverless cars without a luxury interior and high-power motor would be lower than that of private cars.
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The approach contrasts with most robotaxis currently on public roads. They are typically modified versions of mass-market vehicles, limiting interior optimisation and cost control at scale.
Caocao was incubated by Geely in 2015 and positioned as its core platform for shared mobility and future robotaxi operations.
Listed in Hong Kong in June 2025, it achieved its first quarterly adjusted net profit in the fourth quarter.
Gong noted that the operator of China’s second-largest ride-hailing platform after Didi “has a very big advantage”, aligning its overseas push with Geely’s global expansion.
With Geely’s strong backing, Caocao would be one of three to four robotaxi companies surviving in China by 2030, he added.
The deployment push comes as Chinese automakers move towards autonomous driving and mobility services amid intensifying competition in the world’s largest car market.
Xpeng president Brian Gu told Reuters on Thursday that it will likely produce hundreds to thousands of robotaxis over the next 12 to 18 months.
The company’s initial focus will be on robotaxi manufacturing, and it still needs to find operating partners that can collaborate on a global robotaxi business, he added.
The diversification of Chinese manufacturers towards robotaxis indicates a showdown with Tesla, which is rolling out its own purpose-built autonomous vehicle, the Cybercab.
Elon Musk has said Cybercab production will ramp gradually before scaling sharply, with the vehicles expected to replace modified consumer cars as Tesla expands its driverless fleet. REUTERS
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