In regions of China where robotic taxis are being widely tested, human drivers are already voicing their concerns about these “automatic competitors.” However, Counterpoint Research believes that the rise of autopilot technology will not only reshape the job market but also create new opportunities in related fields. As a result, the spread of autonomous vehicles may not be the job-killer that some fear.
Last Tuesday, as reported by CNBC, Chinese regulators issued 16,000 new licenses for the testing of unmanned taxis and opened up 32,000 kilometers of public roads for this purpose. In June, companies like BYD and Nio were granted permission to test their autonomous vehicles, while American giant Tesla is eagerly awaiting approval to deploy its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system on Chinese roads.
Baidu, which currently operates 400 automated taxis in Wuhan, holds only a 1% share of the local passenger market. According to CEO Robin Li, the expansion of robotic taxis will be a slow and steady process, taking several years to unfold. Meanwhile, traditional taxi drivers in Wuhan are urging municipal authorities to impose limits on these robotic taxis, fearing that their jobs are at risk. In the suburbs of Beijing, fares for rides in robotic taxis are about half the price of those in cars driven by humans.
Counterpoint Research analysts point out that the transition from human drivers to robots will be gradual and will vary in pace across different regions. They suggest that governments around the world might need to consider professional retraining programs for drivers who may be displaced. Additionally, educational institutions could start preparing specialists for roles in the emerging robotic taxi industry.
Baidu representatives highlighted the need for employees who can manage transport dispatch, conduct vehicle testing, and annotate data processed by on-board systems. In the U.S., the shift toward automated taxis has created demand for professionals in vehicle maintenance, cartographic data processing, support operations, and dispatching. These changes could also open new employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Furthermore, the transport industry is likely to see a surge in jobs related to information security and software testing as autonomous technology advances.
Interestingly, experts from Counterpoint Research argue that the current shortage of taxi drivers could be alleviated by the adoption of autopilot technology. Rather than eliminating jobs, the move toward autonomous vehicles could solve labor market issues and generate new employment opportunities in the process.
Source: CNBC