Fully self-driving cars are still rare in Korea and other countries. Despite technological advancements, fully autonomous vehicles remain largely experimental. However, in China, autonomous driving systems are rapidly spreading throughout cities.

On February 10, 2025, BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, developed a cutting-edge system named “God’s Eye.” This feature enables the car to park itself without a driver present. Additionally, Baidu, China’s leading IT company, has been operating a robotaxi service called “Apollo Go” since July 20, 2022. This service is actively serving passengers in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

Backed by the Chinese government, robot taxis currently operate 24 hours a day. In some areas, their popularity rivals that of conventional taxis. Notably, 85% of Chinese citizens express trust in autonomous driving technology, compared to only 39% of Americans.

Nonetheless, challenges remain. Xiaomi’s self-driving car, the SU7, was involved in an accident that resulted in three fatalities, raising concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles. Subsequently, the Chinese government prohibited exaggerated promotional claims such as “smart driving.”

Experts predict that self-driving cars could reduce traffic accidents and enhance convenience; however, even minor errors may result in severe accidents, given that the technology is not infallible. Both the benefits of improved traffic efficiency and the associated risks coexist.

China’s situation illustrates how quickly self-driving cars can become popular, yet it also highlights the potential dangers if safety regulations lag behind. In summary, self-driving cars embody the dual nature of being both “the hope of the future” and “a potential threat.”

Observers are watching how other countries will respond to China’s autonomous driving experiments moving forward. Ultimately, there is hope that autonomous driving will enhance human convenience and evolve into the safest, most comfortable mode of transportation in the future.

정진한 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

<저작권자 © 강남포스트, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지>