Lotus Robotics and CaoCao Mobility unveil China’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing service
Lotus Robotics has partnered with CaoCao Mobility to roll out China’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing system. This collaboration brings together Lotus Robotics’ self-driving technology and CaoCao’s mobility expertise, with the aim of deploying advanced autonomous solutions globally.
The system features a fully customised vehicle, complete autonomy without human drivers, and fully automated operations. A successful pilot programme in Suzhou and Hangzhou saw the self-driving technology complete 13,545 km without human intervention, demonstrating its reliability and safety in real-world conditions.
Lotus Robotics and CaoCao Mobility will continue operations in these cities, refining a vehicle-road-cloud integration model that enhances safety by improving how self-driving cars interact with road infrastructure. This includes addressing challenges such as unpredictable pedestrian crossings.
This development follows Lotus Robotics’ partnership with Aramco Digital, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, to explore the introduction of Robotaxis in the Middle East. The company is rapidly scaling its technology, offering a full stack of autonomous solutions for businesses looking to integrate self-driving vehicles into their fleets.
At the core of Lotus Robotics’ offering is ROBO Soul, an autonomous driving software stack capable of providing up to Level 4 autonomy. This technology is already integrated into Lotus’ next-generation electric vehicles, including the Eletre hyper-SUV and the Emeya hyper-GT.
ROBO Galaxy, a cloud-based data management system, supports ROBO Soul by analysing real-time road information, while ROBO Matrix enhances remote safety through AI-powered monitoring and guidance. The latest advancements include high-precision urban navigation that operates without pre-mapped routes, allowing vehicles to seamlessly transition between highways and city roads, change lanes intelligently, and avoid obstacles.
This technology is currently in use in China, with an international rollout planned for Q4 2025. The level of autonomy available in each market will depend on local regulations.
Lotus Robotics collaborates with multiple automotive brands, including Lynk & Co and Farizon Auto, to integrate self-driving capabilities into their vehicles. To scale its services, the company uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) for data storage and analytics, ensuring compliance with regional regulations.
CaoCao Mobility, which operates in 57 cities across China, serves over 35,000 businesses and seven million professionals, positioning itself as a leading corporate travel provider. The partnership with Lotus Robotics marks a significant step in the evolution of autonomous ride-hailing services.
