Uber has announced a strategic partnership with China’s Baidu to introduce Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles on its platform in several international markets outside the United States and mainland China. The companies confirmed on Tuesday that the initial deployment is set to begin later this year, with rollouts planned across Asia and the Middle East.
Baidu’s Apollo Go currently operates a fleet of more than 1,000 fully driverless vehicles in 15 cities worldwide, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The service has already completed over 11 million rides as of May, underscoring its growing global presence.
This collaboration marks another significant step in Uber’s ongoing push to strengthen its position in the competitive robotaxi sector. The ride-hailing giant has formed a series of alliances in recent months as it seeks to outpace rivals such as Lyft in the race to commercialise autonomous vehicle technology.
-Reuters
