Archive · 11 Jan 2026
China to lead self-driving race: HERE CEO
Mike Nefkens, the CEO of HERE Technologies, thinks China will win the race to make fully self-driving cars.
He says China is good at making new things quickly and can handle the rules and costs better than others.
Germany is close behind, with companies like Mercedes-Benz already having self-driving cars on the road.
Other countries like South Korea and the US are also making progress, but China and Germany are the closest to winning.
Big tech companies like Waymo and Zoox are also working on self-driving cars, but they are focusing on offering rides instead of selling cars.
China is likely to win the self-driving race due to its balance of innovation, regulatory speed, and cost-efficiency.
Germany is a close second, with Mercedes-Benz already operating Level 3 self-driving systems in Germany and select US states.
South Korea's Hyundai and Kia are making progress in autonomous technology, with Ioniq 5 Robotaxis already in operation.
The US market features a multi-angled approach, with Ford and General Motors leading in hands-free systems and commercial robotaxis.
Big Tech companies like Waymo and Zoox are shifting the model to autonomous-as-a-service, with Zoox beginning to charge for rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco.
- Who
- Mike Nefkens, CEO of HERE Technologies
- What
- Prediction on the winner of the self-driving race
- When
- 2026
- Where
- Global
- Why
- China's balance of innovation, regulatory speed, and cost-efficiency
- Frontrunner
- China
- Close Second
- Germany
- Key Challenge
- Cost-efficiency and regulatory permissions
- Mercedes-Benz
- Operational Level 3 system in Germany and select US states
- South Korea
- Hyundai and Kia making progress in autonomous tech
- US
- Multi-angled approach with Ford and General Motors
- Big Tech
- Waymo and Zoox shifting to autonomous-as-a-service model