DiDi Global unveils plan to bring robotaxis to China by 2025

DiDi Global established itself as a company dedicated to ride-hailing in China since 2019, and currently boasts investors such as SoftBank. Now, it has announced that it is getting behind the trend toward driver-less alternatives to traditional gig-economy cars.

These ambitions are based on a next-gen vehicle called the Neuron, pitched to look like nothing else on the road, and not just because of its 3.2-meter (m) wheel-base, lack of conventional windshield and generally odd shape made of curves and pillars.

The Neuron is also projected to feature a "robot arm" that might carry out functions such as serving drinks inside its cabin to customers during rides as well as acting as a luggage-lift.

It is also touted to find its way around thanks to 8 sensors for in-house "Beiyao Beta" LiDAR; 6 additional mmWave radar modules and no less than 21 cameras. DiDi Global indicates that it has found manufacturing partners that will allow it to put the Neuron near potential fares by 2025.

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