CaoCao Inc. began robotaxi road testing without an in-vehicle safety operator on public roads in Hangzhou on July 27, 2026, advancing the Geely-incubated ride-hailing platform's driverless program1,5.
The tests are taking place in Hangzhou's Binjiang District under real-world urban traffic conditions. Vehicles receive ride assignments only when designated stations trigger a request, a station-triggered dispatch mechanism that allows CaoCao Inc. to evaluate system stability and service reliability within a limited and controlled operating framework.
The program remains a road test rather than a fully open commercial service. Removing the safety operator from the driver's seat represents a further technical and operational step, but the vehicles continue to operate within prescribed areas and under remote supervision.
CaoCao Inc. received regulatory approval in April to become Hangzhou's first mobility company authorized to test intelligent connected vehicles without onboard safety operators.
Every test vehicle is connected to CaoCao Inc.'s RAS remote safety platform, which serves as the cloud-based safety and operating center for its robotaxi fleet. The platform monitors vehicles throughout each journey and handles emergency calls, real-time remote assistance, and responses to abnormal situations. The remote support layer does not continuously drive the vehicles but provides human oversight and intervention capabilities when assistance is required.
CaoCao Inc. has deployed a fleet of 100 robotaxis in Hangzhou. Fleet operations are supported by its Green Intelligent Mobility Hub, which combines automated battery swapping, vehicle cleaning, and preparation services.
CaoCao Inc. is the principal commercialization platform for Geely's RoboX strategy. The company is developing the Eva Cab, a purpose-built robotaxi designed jointly with Geely for shared autonomous mobility. The Eva Cab is scheduled to enter production and begin initial deployment in 2027, with larger-scale production and deployment planned from 2028.
CaoCao Inc. plans to extend robotaxi testing to additional cities and more complex operating environments.
ANALYSIS The station-triggered dispatch model and prescribed operating areas indicate a deliberately constrained rollout rather than an open commercial launch. The development comes as China's robotaxi sector continues to build out operational infrastructure — Pony.ai recently signed a partnership with JD Auto Service on July 21, 2026, to build a standardized maintenance and spare-parts network for its own robotaxi fleet ctx.