DiDi Autonomous Driving began fully driverless passenger service trials with its next-generation Robotaxi, the R2, on August 31, 2026, making the vehicle bookable through the DiDi App in selected demonstration areas of Beijing and Guangzhou1,2.
The R2 is jointly developed by DiDi Autonomous Driving and GAC Aion, a partnership the company said marks the first time in China that a Robotaxi model was launched through a joint venture between an autonomous driving company and an automaker. The two companies established their joint venture in April 2024. The R2 was delivered on January 23, 2026, and has since been deployed for public-road testing in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, and other cities. The initial fleet secured road test licenses for intelligent connected vehicles in Guangzhou.
DiDi described the R2 as purpose-built for Robotaxi service and designed for global deployment. The vehicle runs on DiDi Autonomous Driving's Level 4 full-stack software and hardware and carries 33 sensors, including LiDAR, cameras, 4D millimeter-wave radar, infrared cameras, and audio sensors. DiDi described the central computer as the industry's first mass-produced triple-domain fusion computing unit, delivering more than 2,000 TOPS of GPU computing power. Compared with the previous generation, DiDi said the platform doubles sensor access capacity, reduces costs by 74 percent, and delivers higher performance with lower latency.
The R2 meets five-star safety standards under C-NCAP and Euro NCAP and incorporates a multi-layer redundancy system covering algorithms, software, hardware, braking, steering, communication, and power supply. DiDi said the vehicle was developed to Functional Safety and Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF) requirements and passed three levels of verification: components, systems, and the complete vehicle.
The cabin maximizes rear passenger space with high-angle adjustable seats and a 17.3-inch ceiling-mounted entertainment screen. An AI voice interaction system lets riders complete PIN verification, adjust air conditioning, open windows, and control ambient lighting by voice command. Before reaching a pickup point, the vehicle opens its windows to ventilate the cabin. DiDi said additional features will roll out gradually, including an exterior interaction screen, options to preset cabin temperature and ambient lighting color, and vehicle-locating functions using the horn and voice prompts.
The trials build on a 24/7 fully driverless pilot service DiDi launched in December 2025 in central Huangpu, Guangzhou, with stops covering metro stations, schools, shopping malls, office buildings, and residential communities. Riders in that pilot can request a driverless vehicle directly or place a mixed order matched by the dispatch system against traffic conditions and vehicle supply. DiDi received its license for remote road testing of intelligent connected vehicles in November 2022.
Internationally, DiDi said in April 2026 that the UAE would become its first market outside China, with Robotaxi testing and pilot initiatives planned later this year. The August 31 announcement coincided with the trials being publicized from Dubai. DiDi said it has maintained safe operations for more than 2,200 consecutive days.
ANALYSIS The R2 trial puts DiDi's jointly developed hardware into revenue-path service for the first time, moving the company from controlled testing to consumer-facing driverless rides in two of China's largest cities. The 74-percent cost reduction DiDi claims for the computing platform, if sustained at fleet scale, bears directly on the unit economics that have constrained robotaxi operators elsewhere.