Baidu & Uber Partner to Launch Thousands of Robotaxis - CleanTechnica

Uber is strengthening its position in the autonomous vehicle market by partnering with Baidu, a leading Chinese self-driving technology and search-engine company, to launch thousands of Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis through the Uber platform. This multi-year collaboration will initially roll out in select Asian and Middle Eastern markets before the end of the year, marking a significant global expansion for Baidu’s autonomous driving technology. Apollo Go’s sixth-generation robotaxis have already provided over 11 million rides across 15 cities, with more than 1,000 vehicles currently in operation. Baidu’s CEO Robin Li emphasized the partnership as a major milestone in scaling autonomous driving technology worldwide. The company is also expanding its presence into Europe, with plans to launch services in Switzerland and establish an office there. This move aligns with Uber’s broader strategy of exclusive partnerships with leading robotaxi providers—such as Waymo in Austin and WeRide in other cities—to maintain its competitive edge as the ride-hailing industry transitions toward fully autonomous transportation.