Baidu, China's leading technology company, is preparing to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service, Apollo Go, into Europe, marking a significant step in the global competition for driverless taxi services.

The company plans to establish a local entity in Switzerland within the coming months and aims to begin testing its robotaxi service by the end of the year. Discussions have taken place between Baidu and Swiss bus service provider PostAuto for a potential debut in Switzerland. However, Swiss Post, PostAuto's parent company, stated there is currently no formal partnership or cooperation with Baidu or any other tech provider, although it is exploring future mobility options. Additionally, Baidu is considering launching Apollo Go in Turkey. Apollo Go already operates in several Chinese cities, including Wuhan, where it maintains its largest fleet of over 400 autonomous vehicles. Baidu has not commented officially on these plans. (reuters.com)

Founded in 2000, Baidu has evolved into a leader in artificial intelligence and autonomous driving. Its Apollo platform, launched in 2017, serves as an open-source initiative to accelerate autonomous vehicle development. Apollo Go, the company's autonomous ride-hailing service, has been operational in over 10 Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Changsha, Cangzhou, Wuhan, Wuzhen, and Yangquan. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Apollo Go provided approximately 1.1 million rides across China, marking a 36% year-on-year increase. By January 2025, the cumulative number of rides exceeded 9 million. (autonews.gasgoo.com)

In November 2024, Baidu secured a license to test its Apollo Go autonomous robotaxi service in Hong Kong, marking its first permit for autonomous vehicle trials outside mainland China. The approval by Hong Kong's Transport Department allows Baidu to conduct trials with 10 autonomous vehicles in North Lantau from December 9, 2024, to December 8, 2029. Initially, only one self-driving car will operate on specified road sections, with a backup operator on board to take over if necessary. (reuters.com)

Baidu is actively seeking collaborations with mobility service providers, local taxi companies, and third-party fleet operators to scale up efficiently through an asset-light model. CEO Robin Li emphasized that 2025 would be a pivotal year for Apollo Go's growth, with plans to rapidly expand its fleet size and ride volumes. (autonews.gasgoo.com)

Baidu's international ambitions mirror similar efforts by Chinese peers WeRide and Pony.ai, who are also expanding into Europe and the Middle East, including collaborations with Uber. The global race for autonomous vehicle dominance highlights a growing tech rivalry between China and the West. However, concerns over data security persist, with the U.S. government taking measures to limit the influence of Chinese connected-car software and firms like lidar-maker Hesai due to security concerns. (ft.com)

The expansion into European markets presents several challenges for Baidu. The regulatory frameworks in many Western countries are stricter and vary greatly, which could delay market entry. Additionally, established competitors like Tesla, which already has a significant presence in the U.S. and Europe, pose strong competition. Other Chinese providers like WeRide and AutoX are also pushing for global expansion, further intensifying competition in this sector. (eulerpool.com)

The introduction of autonomous ride-hailing services like Apollo Go has significant social and economic implications. In China, the rapid adoption of driverless taxis has raised concerns among local taxi drivers, as robotaxis are typically cheaper, leading to social tensions. This backlash, along with competition, poses risks to Baidu's growth in this sector. (kr-asia.com)

Baidu's planned expansion of Apollo Go into Europe signifies a strategic effort to globalize its autonomous driving services. While this move presents opportunities for innovation and market growth, it also brings challenges related to regulatory compliance, competition, and societal acceptance.