Baidu and Uber Partner to Launch Robotaxis in Asia and Middle East
Baidu and Uber have announced a multi-year partnership to deploy thousands of Apollo Go robotaxis across Asia and the Middle East, marking a major expansion of autonomous vehicle services outside the United States and mainland China.
The deployment is expected to begin later this year, according to a joint statement from the companies. It remains unclear whether Hong Kong, where Baidu began trial operations of Apollo Go in early May, will be included in the rollout. Uber is not licensed to operate non-taxi vehicles in the city.
The partnership comes as Tesla expands its robotaxi pilot service in the United States. This week, Tesla widened the geofence for its autonomous vehicle programme in Austin, Texas, less than a month after its initial launch.
Baidu, a Chinese search engine and artificial intelligence company, has already deployed more than 1,000 driverless vehicles globally. Its Apollo Go service operates in 15 cities, including Shenzhen, Wuhan, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Apollo Go vehicles support Level 4 autonomous driving, which allows them to operate without human input under specific conditions in urban and highway environments. The system uses sensors, cameras and software to navigate and follow traffic rules, though a driver may need to intervene outside its operational limits.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the collaboration combines two major technology firms to shape the future of mobility. He noted that Uber’s global platform, which spans mobility, delivery and freight, is well-positioned to help autonomous vehicle leaders like Baidu scale their technology worldwide.
Baidu co-founder, Chairman and CEO Robin Li Yanhong said the partnership represents a significant step in bringing autonomous driving to more markets. He expressed confidence in delivering safe and efficient mobility solutions through the collaboration.
Baidu began testing Apollo Go vehicles in September and launched its commercial service in 2022. Uber currently operates autonomous vehicle services in several cities through partnerships with companies such as Pony AI, Waymo and Volkswagen.
Baidu and Uber will deploy Apollo Go robotaxis in Asia and the Middle East later this year
The partnership excludes the US and mainland China
Baidu has over 1,000 autonomous vehicles operating in 15 cities globally
Source: SCMP
