How Baidu's Apollo Go Targets Global Robotaxi Expansion
Autonomous vehicle services have reached an inflection point in their commercial development, as companies operating driverless taxis have moved from testing, to revenue-generating operations in multiple markets.
This development creates huge opportunities for urban transport systems, with cities adapting regulations to accommodate autonomous vehicles on public roads.
China has emerged as a centre for autonomous vehicle development, with its complex urban environments providing testing conditions for the technology – alongside the rapid adoption of driverless services, particularly in major cities where autonomous taxis operate alongside traditional transport options.
In this race, Baidu plans to accelerate the global expansion of its autonomous vehicle programme after completing nine million rides in mainland China through its Apollo Go service, which operates autonomous taxis.
Baidu Apollo Go achieves milestone in autonomous operations
The autonomous vehicle service has transitioned to fully driverless operations across China in February 2025, removing safety drivers from its vehicles.
Baidu’s programme's fleet has covered 130 million autonomous kilometres, establishing operational protocols for urban transport systems.
Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2024, Apollo Go completed 1.1 million rides, representing a 36 percent increase from the previous year.
"This year will be a paramount year for our expansion. We expect to grow our fleet size and ride volumes faster than ever," says Robin Li, Co-founder and CEO of Baidu.
Furthermore, the company's sixth-generation autonomous vehicle, the RT6, costs less than 30,000 USD to manufacture – enabling Baidu to scale its operations while maintaining cost efficiency.
The vehicle has already operated in 12 Chinese cities, providing operational experience in diverse scenarios, from high-density urban centres to suburban areas and navigating complex traffic conditions and urban environments.
Hong Kong launch signals expansion to right-hand markets
Baidu also received permits to test autonomous vehicles in Hong Kong in November 2024, marking its first entry into a right-hand drive market, demonstrating the adaptability of its autonomous driving technology to different traffic systems.
- Apollo Go provided 1.1 million rides in Q4 2024, up 36% year-on-year
- Cumulative rides exceeded 9 million by January 2025
- The sixth-generation autonomous vehicle RT6 costs less than 30,000 USD
- Apollo Go transitioned to 100% fully driverless operations across China in February 2025
- The fleet has accumulated over 130 million autonomous kilometers
- Apollo Go operates in about a dozen cities in China
The Hong Kong operation represents a strategic entry point for expansion into other right-hand drive territories as these markets encompass regions across Asia, Africa and the UK, where traffic flows on the left side of the road.
"This achievement recognises our deep expertise in autonomous driving operations, and we are committed to expanding our footprint and bringing safe, reliable and convenient autonomous ride-hailing services to more cities and regions worldwide," says Robin.
The expansion to right-hand drive territories opens opportunities in markets that represent one-third of global traffic systems – and Baidu plans to pursue partnerships with mobility service providers, taxi companies and fleet operators to facilitate this growth.
Baidu seeks partners for international expansion
Baidu plans to implement an asset-light strategy for its global expansion, approaching collaboration with local operators rather than direct ownership of vehicle fleets in new markets.
"We have identified a variety of potential partners, including mobility service providers, local taxi companies, third-party fleet operators, and other potential partners.
“This asset-light approach will allow us to scale up efficiently while maintaining flexibility," Robin says.
"Building on this strong momentum, and with an unwavering commitment to safety as our top priority, we expect to see even faster growth in our ride volumes, with a significant acceleration anticipated in 2025 as we further scale our operations," he adds.
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