Latest news with #BaiduApollo
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong accelerates self-driving vehicle trials with Tung Chung expansion
Hong Kong has taken a significant step towards autonomous driving services, as the government plans to extend trials to Tung Chung and increase the testing speed to 50km/h (31mph) within the next five months. Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Mable Chan, also announced on Wednesday that there are plans to officially introduce passenger services and commercial applications, such as ride-hailing, within the next couple of years. These trials became possible following the implementation of a new regulatory framework for self-driving vehicles last March. By the end of 2024, two pilot licences had been issued, allowing 12 vehicles operated by Baidu Apollo to conduct tests. 'The progress has been significant, achieving several technological leaps. The testing scale has expanded from a single private car to 10 vehicles operating simultaneously to gather data on multi-vehicle coordination,' Chan told lawmakers at a Legislative Council meeting. She said that, following safety assessments, passenger trials had been conducted on specific routes, and testing would now take place on more complex roads. After trials on routes within the airport island, the government would extend the trials to Tung Chung and Cyberport in the Southern district. Baidu Apollo submitted documents to the Islands District Council on Tuesday, proposing trial routes that would pass through several residential estates and public housing complexes in Tung Chung, including Fu Tung Estate and Yu Tung Court. Three autonomous vehicles will conduct testing between 1am and 5am, and again from 9am to 10am.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Baidu's Apollo teams with Car Inc to launch autonomous driving rental service
BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese tech giant Baidu's smart driving unit Apollo said on Thursday that it would team up with local auto rental firm Car Inc to launch a "first-of-its-kind" autonomous driving rental service. Under an agreement signed in Beijing on Thursday, the two companies will "jointly promote the application of autonomous driving technology" in cities, according to an Apollo statement. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
20-03-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Advancing Autonomous Driving Globally: Apollo Go's Strategic Opportunities in the International Market
The Future of Autonomous Ride-Hailing: A Growing Market As autonomous driving technology matures, the global ride-hailing market is moving toward large-scale commercialization. As a leading player in the industry, Apollo Go has made significant technological progress while following a clear strategic roadmap for global development. Global Landscape: Apollo Go and Waymo Lead the Industry According to ARK's 'Big Ideas 2025,' the United States and China are at the forefront of the robotaxi revolution, with Waymo and Baidu Apollo delivering the majority of autonomous ride-hailing services in their respective markets. ARK's founder, Cathie Wood, has expressed confidence in the rapid advancement of autonomous driving technology. In 2009, Google launched its self-driving car project, which became Waymo in 2016. Currenly, Waymo is having commercial operations in four major U.S. cities. In 2024, Waymo secured an additional $5.6 billion in funding, proving the capital confidence in the autonomous driving sector. Since 2013, Baidu Apollo has been exploring autonomous driving technology. In 2018, Baidu Apollo received one of China's first autonomous driving road test licenses and launched its ride-hailing service in Beijing in 2020. Since February 2025, Apollo Go has been operating fully driverless services across China, surpassing 9 million completed rides. Waymo vehicle waiting at a railroad crossing in Austin, Texas Strategic Opportunities in the Right-Hand Drive Market: One-Third Share of the Global Market According to the Hong Kong Transport Department, Apollo Go successfully obtained Hong Kong's first batch of autonomous vehicle pilot licenses in 2024, marking its entry into right-hand drive, left-hand traffic regions. Meanwhile, Waymo plans to begin testing autonomous electric cars in Tokyo in early 2025, marking its first step into the international market. Right-hand drive markets, including the UK, Singapore, Japan, and Australia, make up a third of the global automotive market, with increased competition expected. The Middle East's Potential: UAE's Expectations and AI Investment Beyond the right-hand drive markets, the Middle East has become a key target for Apollo Go's globalization strategy. At the 2025 Dubai World Government Summit (WGS), Baidu Co-Founder and CEO Robin Li emphasized the importance of continued investment in AI and highlighted the breakthroughs in autonomous driving technology. H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, expressed high expectations for Apollo Go's technology and proposed the use of an Apollo Go-powered fully autonomous fleet at future World Government Summits Technological Breakthroughs and Cost Reduction: Key to Robotaxi Commercialization Apollo Go continues to achieve technological breakthroughs and rapid cost reductions, which are key to bringing this service to the global market. The fifth-generation model costs around $67,200, while the sixth-generation model has dropped to $30,000, a nearly 60% reduction, providing a solid foundation for the large-scale commercialization of robotaxis. Additionally, Apollo Go has fully automated its operations, including vehicle wake-up, garage entry and exit, self-charging, and maintenance, all without manual intervention. This boosts operational efficiency and cuts costs significantly. Apollo Go's RT6 model is already in operation across multiple cities, receiving positive feedback on its safety, comfort, and intelligent driving capabilities. With continuous technological advancements and cost optimizations, Apollo Go is poised to accelerate its global expansion, delivering intelligent, safe, and sustainable autonomous ride-hailing services worldwide. Apollo Go, also known as Luobo Kuaipao, is Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service and a global leader in large-scale self-driving mobility. As China's first fully driverless commercial Robotaxi service, Apollo Go integrates AI, big data, and automation to help build the smart cities of the future. Media Contact Company Name: Apollo Go Country: China
Globe and Mail
14-03-2025
- Automotive
- Globe and Mail
Breakthrough Technologies: Robotaxis Try to Win Users' Trust
Robotaxis have accumulated more than 150 million autonomous kilometers with an outstanding safety record. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, global transportation is undergoing a profound transformation, particularly driven by autonomous driving technology, which is accelerating toward large-scale commercialization. Cathie Wood from Ark Invest recently called robotaxis "one of the most important investment opportunities of our lifetimes." She mentioned that dozens of companies had claimed they would achieve fully autonomous driving within five years. Today, in the U.S., only Tesla and Waymo have made it happen, while in China, it's Baidu Apollo. Waymo, a global pioneer in autonomous driving, has launched commercial operations in four major U.S. cities, providing approximately 200,000 trips per week—demonstrating its robust market scalability. In San Francisco, people can take a Waymo autonomous vehicle anytime, anywhere, without worrying about attracting curious stares. Robotaxis have become a familiar sight. Meanwhile, Apollo Go has been making waves in Wuhan, China, offering a similar experience. Countless self-driving vehicles navigate the streets and alleys. People can spot Apollo Go at schools, hospitals, shopping malls, parks, and various other locations, naturally entering their phone numbers to book a ride as if it were just part of everyday life. Notably, these vehicles are completely driverless. According to Baidu's latest financial report, Apollo Go completed 1.1 million rides in Q4 2024, averaging approximately 12,000 rides per day. Passengers trust self-driving vehicles, just as Waymo and Baidu had hoped. Research suggests that the public holds autonomous vehicles to higher safety standards than conventional cars. "We have proven that robotaxis are much safer than human drivers. As of today, they are 10 times safer," Baidu's CEO stated. To date, Apollo Go's fleet has accumulated more than 150 million autonomous kilometers with an outstanding safety record, underscoring its industry-leading standards. "Apollo Go abides by a 'safety first' principle, prioritizing the safety of all road users." This is part of a broader trend within the autonomous ride-hailing industry. A handful of cities around the world are already utilizing technology that allows self-driving vehicles to maneuver through busy urban streets. The challenge for Apollo Go and Waymo now is to attract more passengers. Every Waymo car welcomes riders with music as they step inside. A screen mounted in front of the rear seats displays a real-time map of the route and offers controls for adjusting temperature and music. Similarly, Apollo Go's sixth-generation autonomous vehicles feature seats that recline up to 120 degrees, allowing passengers to relax or enjoy a massage. "It's like a mobile massage therapist," some passengers have remarked. The vehicles are also being upgraded with new features designed to assist visually impaired passengers, making boarding and exiting more convenient. "Making Cars Smarter, Making Travel Easier." Companies like Apollo Go and Waymo are proving that AI-driven mobility is no longer a distant dream—it is actively reshaping urban transportation. From safety to comfort, functionality to sustainability, autonomous driving technology is delivering green, low-carbon, safe, and comfortable travel experiences worldwide. About Apollo Go Apollo Go, also known as Luobo Kuaipao, is Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service and one of the world's leading players in large-scale self-driving mobility solutions. As China's first fully driverless commercial Robotaxi service, Apollo Go is pioneering the integration of AI, big data, and automation to build the smart cities of the future. Media Contact Company Name: Apollo Go Contact Person: Mingjie Xu Email: Send Email Country: China Website:
