The Second Half of AI Driving Schools: From 'Coach Out' to 'Data In,' the True Moat is Just Being Dug

The first AI transformation in China's driving instruction industry was essentially "labor replacement." One AI coach car replaces one human instructor, and the cost math works out: a traditional setup with an instructor costs about 8,000-10,000 RMB/month (salary + social security), plus vehicle depreciation and fuel, bringing the per-student cost to 1,500-2,000 RMB. An AI coach car requires a one-time investment of roughly 30,000-50,000 RMB (including sensors, cameras, control systems, and voice interaction modules), can cover 2-3 vehicles, has extremely low subsequent maintenance costs, and increases student capacity per vehicle by over 30%. This is a classic "cost reduction and efficiency boost" story, which explains why primary market investors went crazy betting on AI driving schools over the past two years—players like YiJia, Haha, and PaiXueChe all secured funding, and industry penetration jumped rapidly from less than 5% in 2020 to about 18% in 2023.