Geely Unveils EVA Cab Robotaxi: A Purpose-Built Design Aims for 100 000 Vehicles by 2030
Geely has revealed the EVA Cab, a new electric robotaxi it says was designed from the ground up for autonomous ride-hailing, rather than adapted from a conventional passenger car.
The vehicle debuted around the Beijing auto show circuit, as Chinese automakers race to industrialize driverless mobility.
The EVA Cab is being developed with autonomous driving firm Afari Technology and CaoCao Mobility, Geely’s ride-hailing arm. CaoCao has said it expects the robotaxi to enter production and begin service in 2026, with larger-scale deliveries targeted for 2028.
A cabin built for fleets
Early images suggest the EVA Cab is configured without a steering wheel and with a lounge-like passenger area, prioritizing easy entry through wide sliding doors.
The design also appears to remove typical storage pockets, a small change meant to reduce items left behind during high-frequency trips.
Geely says the robotaxi is engineered for fleet operations, including automated battery swapping and automated cleaning to cut downtime between rides. Those features reflect a broader push among operators to improve utilization, which is critical to making robotaxi economics work.
Big targets, familiar hurdles
According to a Reuters report, CaoCao is targeting a fleet of 100 000 EVA Cabs in service by 2030, with initial rollouts planned for Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and five major Chinese cities. The company’s strategy pairs a dedicated vehicle with an existing ride-hailing platform, aiming to speed deployment.
Still, Geely’s claim of a first purpose-built robotaxi in China is likely to be debated, given earlier launches such as Baidu’s Apollo RT6, introduced in 2022 as a purpose-designed autonomous vehicle. What sets the EVA Cab apart is its more radical, passenger-only interior and its emphasis on automation around charging and cleaning.
Why scaling robotaxis is hard?
Industry-wide, the bigger challenge remains consistent, safe Level 4-style operation across varied traffic, weather and edge cases, not simply building a new vehicle. Regulators, insurance frameworks, remote assistance systems and ongoing maintenance all shape how quickly fleets can expand.
Geely’s timeline underscores both ambition and caution: pilot service in 2026, then mass deliveries in 2028, suggesting extensive validation before true scale. For CaoCao, the test will be whether purpose-built hardware and fleet automation can translate into reliable daily operations and sustainable margins.
