## Goldman Sachs: U.S. and China Locked in Robotaxi Race as Physical AI Commercialization Accelerates
The strategic competition between the U.S. and China is accelerating onto the world's roads, with both superpowers now locked in a high-stakes race to deploy autonomous vehicles. Goldman Sachs analysts have issued separate but parallel reports detailing the rapid commercialization of robotaxi fleets in both nations, framing it as a critical new front in the broader AI and technology rivalry. This shift moves the contest beyond semiconductors and into the realm of 'physical AI,' where artificial intelligence directly controls real-world infrastructure and mobility.

In a report led by Allen Chang, Goldman highlights China's explosive growth trajectory, forecasting its robotaxi fleet to surge from 5,000 vehicles in 2025 to 14,000 in 2026—a 195% year-over-year increase. The analysts note that commercialization is speeding up, with several key players already achieving city-level break-even points. This operational milestone signals a move from experimental pilots to viable, scaled business models. Concurrently, a separate Goldman team led by Mark Delaney outlined for U.S. clients how autonomous vehicles could reshape American highways and profit pools through the 2030s.

The firm has raised its long-term robotaxi forecasts for 2025-2035 by 7% to 25%, projecting that by 2035, robotaxis will account for 36% of all ride-sharing vehicles globally. This forecast underscores the immense economic and strategic value at stake. The parallel analyses from a single financial powerhouse reveal a clear consensus: the race to automate transportation is no longer a distant concept but an immediate, capital-intensive competition with profound implications for global tech leadership, urban infrastructure, and future mobility markets.
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- **Source**: ZeroHedge
- **Sector**: The Network
- **Tags**: Robotaxi, Autonomous Vehicles, US-China Tech Race, Goldman Sachs, AI Commercialization
- **Credibility**: unverified
- **Published**: 2026-04-21 01:22:30
- **ID**: 73302
- **URL**: https://whisperx.ai/en/intel/73302