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OpinionSOCIETY

Shenzhen Announces Full-City Autonomous Driving by 2028: 85% of Vehicles Will Be L4, Traditional Taxis Phase Out

Shenzhen's government releases a full-city autonomous driving roadmap targeting 85% L4 vehicle penetration by 2028, making it the world's first city to comprehensively embrace autonomous mobility — and signaling the end of the traditional taxi.

Overview

Shenzhen's Transportation Bureau today released the "Shenzhen Autonomous Driving Full-City Open Roadmap," setting the goal of achieving city-wide L4 commercial autonomous driving by 2028.

When realized, Shenzhen will become the world's first truly "autonomous city" — and traditional cruising taxis will begin their phased exit.

Roadmap

  • End of 2027: Full coverage of Shenzhen's main urban districts + Qianhai Cooperation Zone
  • June 2028: Expansion to Bao'an, Longgang, and remaining districts
  • End of 2028: L4 vehicles comprise 85% of all motor vehicles in Shenzhen

What Changes

The Driver Disappears

Shenzhen currently has approximately 42,000 cruising taxi drivers. As autonomous vehicles take over, these workers face major transitions.

The government has pledged ¥5 billion for driver retraining, redirecting them toward new roles in autonomous vehicle supervision and maintenance. Roughly 5,000 veteran drivers will be retained primarily for remote areas.

Cost of Travel Plummets

Autonomous taxis operate at roughly one-third the cost of human-driven taxis. Average ride-hailing prices in Shenzhen are expected to fall from the current ¥8/km to around ¥2.5/km.

This creates significant pressure on public transit — Shenzhen Metro has already initiated fare reduction plans.

Safety Improves Dramatically

Data from Shenzhen's Transportation Bureau shows that autonomous taxis operating for 18 months recorded accident rates at just 7% of human-driven taxis, with zero major injuries or fatalities.

The Controversy

Critics point to the 42,000 drivers facing unemployment as evidence of "efficiency over people." Supporters argue: "If we don't embrace change proactively, we'll lose our competitive edge. The pain of displaced drivers is real — but so is the inevitability of this industrial transition."

Shenzhen's experiment will provide answers the whole nation is watching.