Robotaxi
| Part of a series on |
| Self-driving cars and self-driving vehicles |
|---|
| Enablers |
| Topics |
| Related topics |
A robotaxi, also known as robot taxi, robo-taxi, self-driving taxi or driverless taxi, is an autonomous car (SAE automation level 4 or 5) operated for a ridesharing company.
Consultancy firms predict that robotaxis operated in an autonomous mobility on demand (AMoD) service could be a large application of autonomous cars at scale, especially in urban areas. Market forecasts suggest they have a positive impact on congestion and parking over private cars, while some firms such as Kearney predict a negative impact due to induced demand. Studies on the impacts on road safety are mixed, with crash rates higher than humans in certain pilots.
Robotaxis could also reduce urban pollution and energy consumption, since less weight and range is necessary compared to individually owned vehicles. The expected reduction in number of vehicles means less embodied energy; however energy consumption for redistribution of empty vehicles must be taken into account. Robotaxis would reduce operating costs by eliminating the need for a human driver, which might make it an affordable form of transportation and increase the popularity of transportation-as-a-service (TaaS) as opposed to individual car ownership.
Such developments could lead to job destruction and new challenges concerning operator liabilities. In 2023, some robotaxis caused congestion when they blocked roads due to lost cellular connectivity, and others failed to properly yield to emergency vehicles. As of 2023, there has been one fatality associated with a robotaxi, a pedestrian who was hit by an Uber test vehicle in 2018.
Predictions of the widespread and rapid introduction of robotaxis – by as early as 2018 – have not yet been realized. Several companies provide robotaxi services of varying degrees of automation in parts of the world. As of 2025, the number and scope of these services is rapidly expanding, but they still all operate at a financial loss. An American Automobile Association survey in 2025 said that only 13% of respondents would trust a self-driving vehicle.