Baidu has entered into a strategic partnership with Uber to expand its Apollo Go robotexy service across multiple global markets beyond the United States and China. The effort is seen as an important step in accelerating the transformation of the transportation industry towards smart mobility. Through this joint initiative, Uber users in various regions will enjoy a more comfortable driverless travel experience in line with the development of self-driving vehicle technology.
The initial launch phase of the service is expected to begin in the Asia and Middle East regions before expanding to Europe and Turkey by the end of this year. Through direct integration in the application, users will be offered the option to book Apollo Go self-driving vehicles as an alternative to their daily commute. This initiative is expected to enhance the daily mobility experience in a smarter and smoother way.
According to previous reports, Baidu plans to launch the Apollo Go robotexy service in Malaysia and Singapore as early as this year. Initial discussions are underway with local partners to identify the most suitable business model, including possible collaborations with mobility operators, taxi companies, and existing vehicle operators on a contractual basis.
Meanwhile in China, Apollo Go has recorded active use of over 500 self-driving vehicles in Wuhan with a total of over 11 million trips as of the first quarter of this year. This success is being used as a platform to explore new markets including countries showing high potential such as Malaysia.