Despite regulatory and technical challenges, Chinese companies remain committed to international expansion, viewing it as vital for growth and societal impact.

Chinese autonomous vehicle companies like Baidu's Apollo Go, WeRide, and Pony AI are making significant strides in deploying robotaxi services both domestically and internationally, with operations now extending to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and plans for Europe.

While most Chinese firms focus on domestic markets, their international expansion reflects a strategic effort to establish a global presence in the driverless car industry.

Partnerships with global ride-hailing platforms such as Uber and investments from local companies like Grab are boosting Chinese firms' international reach and demonstrating their technology in real-world settings.

Chinese companies have accumulated over 16,000 test licenses and tested more than 32,000 km across 50+ cities, focusing on regions with supportive policies like the Middle East, Europe, Singapore, and South Korea.

The Middle East's favorable investment climate, including funding from sovereign wealth funds and government incentives, is fueling Chinese companies' ambitions and providing a testing ground for their global expansion.

Chinese firms benefit from government support, extensive testing experience, advanced AI, and complex urban environments that prepare them for international markets.

Regions like the Middle East, with favorable climate, infrastructure, and policies, are ideal for testing and scaling autonomous vehicle services, making them a focus for Chinese firms.

Unlike US companies that operate mainly domestically due to regulatory barriers, Chinese firms pursue a dual strategy of maintaining domestic leadership while expanding globally, leveraging their experience and technology.

Chinese companies are expanding beyond China, establishing services in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and planning to enter European markets such as Germany and the UK.

Chinese firms benefit from substantial state support, which accelerates their development and international efforts, contrasting with the more market-driven approach of American companies.

Full commercial deployment of autonomous taxis remains challenging due to regulatory hurdles, safety concerns, and complex driving scenarios, even for leaders like Waymo.

Pony.ai has begun robotaxi testing in Qatar through a partnership with Mowasalat, with plans for commercial operations in 2026 and expansion into the Middle East and other regions.

Chinese companies leverage cheaper components from China's EV supply chain and a large pool of talented graduates to produce low-cost autonomous vehicles appealing to global operators.

WeRide has deployed robotaxis and robobuses in Singapore, including autonomous sanitation projects, and plans to expand cooperation with Uber to 15 additional cities outside China and the US over the next five years.