Hello Unveils Mass-Production Robotaxi HR1, Targets 1 Million Vehicles Within 8 Years

Hello announced on September 15, 2025, that it had begun operating its mass-production robotaxi, the HR1. The company plans to begin mass production in 2026, operate more than 50,000 vehicles worldwide by 2027 and reach 1 million vehicles within eight years. CEO Yang Lei said commercialization had become possible as AI and hardware conditions matured and computing costs fell. Yu Qiankun, former CTO of SAIC SAIKE Intelligent, also joined Hello Autonomous Driving as a co-founder.

For readers following autonomous mobility services, Hello has outlined plans to begin mass production in 2026 and expand to more than 50,000 vehicles by 2027, in addition to starting operations with a mass-production vehicle. The company also disclosed that it plans to begin commercial operations in four to five Chinese cities in 2025, a step toward commercialization. CEO Yang Lei said that maturing AI and in-vehicle hardware conditions, along with lower computing costs, made the business viable. These details offer a basis for assessing when and under what conditions robotaxis may enter large-scale deployment.