Baidu's RoboTaxis Expand to Middle East: A New Era in Autonomous Driving

In a significant move, Baidu's autonomous driving platform, Apollo Go RoboTaxis (known as "蘿蔔快跑" in Chinese), has announced a strategic partnership with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to launch large-scale autonomous taxi services in Dubai. This collaboration marks the first time RoboTaxis will conduct extensive autonomous driving tests and services outside of China.

Deployment of Over 1000 Autonomous Vehicles in Dubai

As part of this agreement, RoboTaxis and RTA plan to deploy more than 1000 fully autonomous vehicles in Dubai. This initiative aims to test and refine the autonomous driving system in the complex urban traffic environment of Dubai, further validating its stability and maturity.

Collaboration with Autogo for Abu Dhabi

In addition to the partnership with RTA, RoboTaxis has also teamed up with Autogo, a UAE-based autonomous mobility company. This strategic collaboration will leverage the strengths of both parties to provide safe, green, and efficient autonomous transportation services in Abu Dhabi. This move is a further expansion of RoboTaxis' presence in the Middle East market.

Achievements and Future Plans

To date, RoboTaxis has successfully deployed autonomous vehicles on a city-wide scale in China, achieving 100% full autonomy and providing over 10 million rides, with a cumulative safe driving distance exceeding 1.5 billion kilometers. The platform has demonstrated a safety record significantly better than human drivers, with an accident rate only 1/14 of that of human drivers over the past two years.

The partnership with RTA and Autogo is set to enhance urban traffic efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and support Abu Dhabi's smart city goals. The future plans include expanding the fleet size and creating the largest autonomous vehicle fleet in the Abu Dhabi region.

Global Expansion

This move is part of RoboTaxis' broader strategy to expand globally. Following its recent approval for public road testing in Hong Kong, the platform is poised to enter other international markets, with Singapore potentially being the next target. The visit by Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister, Wang Ruijie, to Baidu's Apollo Park and his positive feedback on the sixth-generation autonomous vehicles further hint at future collaborations.

Conclusion

The partnership between RoboTaxis, RTA, and Autogo underscores Baidu's commitment to advancing autonomous driving technology and expanding its services internationally. As the global landscape of mobility continues to evolve, RoboTaxis is at the forefront, providing innovative, safe, and efficient transportation solutions.

By TopUsedCars.com reporter Calvin Zhang.