DiDi Starts Driverless Trials With R2 Robotaxi in Beijing and Guangzhou

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 Guangzhou, the company announced.

The R2 is jointly developed by DiDi Autonomous Driving and GAC Aion. DiDi described the vehicle as purpose-built for Robotaxi service and designed for global deployment, with upgrades in autonomous driving performance and cabin experience over the prior generation.

Level 4 Hardware and Safety Systems

The R2 runs on DiDi Autonomous Driving’s Level 4 full-stack software and hardware. It carries 33 sensors and a triple-domain fusion central computing platform, which the company said improves perception accuracy and the vehicle’s ability to handle complex driving scenarios. The vehicle meets five-star safety standards under C-NCAP and Euro NCAP, the Chinese and European vehicle safety assessment programs, and incorporates a multi-layer redundancy system.

Technical details from the vehicle’s delivery in January 2026 fill out the configuration. According to the delivery announcement, the sensor suite combines LiDAR, cameras, 4D millimeter-wave radar, infrared cameras, and audio sensors for full-scenario perception. DiDi described the central computer as the industry’s first mass-produced triple-domain fusion computing unit, with more than 2,000 TOPS of GPU computing power. Compared with the previous generation, the company said the platform delivers higher performance and lower latency, doubles sensor access capacity, and reduces costs by 74 percent.

The redundancy architecture covers algorithms, software, hardware, braking, steering, communication, and power supply. DiDi said the R2 was developed to Functional Safety and SOTIF (Safety of the Intended Functionality) requirements and passed three levels of verification — components, systems, and the complete vehicle — including road performance, reliability, extreme climate endurance, collision safety, and customized operational scenario testing.

Cabin Features and Ride Experience

The cabin maximizes rear passenger space and uses high-angle adjustable seats. A 17.3-inch ceiling-mounted screen provides entertainment, and an AI voice interaction system lets riders complete PIN verification to start a trip, adjust the air conditioning, open the 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 that use the horn and voice prompts.

Testing History and Operations

The R2 was delivered on January 23, 2026, and the initial fleet secured road test licenses for intelligent connected vehicles in Guangzhou. Since delivery, the vehicle has been deployed for public-road testing in Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen, and other cities, which DiDi said demonstrated safe and stable operations. The delivery marked 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 driverless trials extend a service buildout that began earlier. In December 2025, DiDi Autonomous Driving launched a 24/7 fully driverless pilot service in central Huangpu, Guangzhou, with stops covering metro stations, schools, shopping malls, office buildings, and residential communities. That pilot operates around the clock, and riders can request a driverless vehicle directly or place a mixed order that the dispatch system matches against traffic conditions and vehicle supply. DiDi received its license for remote road testing of intelligent connected vehicles in November 2022.

In April 2026, the company said the UAE would become its first international market, with Robotaxi testing and pilot initiatives planned there later this year. The announcement coincided with the driverless trials being publicized from Dubai.

DiDi Autonomous Driving develops its own full-stack Level 4 technology and operates Huiju Port, its full-process Robotaxi operations center. The company said it has maintained safe operations for more than 2,200 consecutive days, supported by its Level 4 software and hardware and Huiju Port’s intelligent operations and maintenance system.

As the R2 enters fully driverless service trials, the company said it will continue advancing its Robotaxi technology and adjusting services around rider needs, with further in-cabin features scheduled to reach the fleet over time.