Baidu plans self-driving taxi tests in Europe this year

Chinese language tech large Baidu plans to start out testing self-driving taxis in Europe for the primary time by the tip of this yr, a supply with information of the matter confirmed to AFP on Wednesday.

China’s tech firms and automakers have poured billions of {dollars} into self-driving expertise lately, with clever driving the brand new battleground within the nation’s cutthroat home automotive market.

Driverless taxis are already on the roads with restricted capability in China, most notably within the central metropolis of Wuhan the place a fleet of over 500 will be hailed by app in designated areas.

The Wall Avenue Journal reported Tuesday that Baidu was in talks to launch its Apollo Go robotaxi service with Switzerland’s PostAuto, a part of Swiss Put up accountable for public bus companies.

A supply confirmed to AFP that Baidu will arrange a neighborhood entity in Switzerland to be able to start assessments there earlier than the tip of 2025.

The corporate will even begin testing Apollo Go in Turkey, they stated.

In March Baidu introduced it had signed an settlement to launch autonomous driving assessments and companies in Dubai, Apollo Go’s first worldwide fleet deployment.

100 self-driving automobiles will probably be on the roads there by the tip of the yr, the agency stated in an announcement.

Baidu shouldn’t be alone amongst Chinese language firms in looking to increase its foothold overseas.

Its rival WeRide can also be lively within the Gulf area, and in January introduced it had been picked to steer a small pilot undertaking in Switzerland.

Pony.AI, one other Chinese language firm, introduced in April that it had obtained a allow to check robotaxis in Luxembourg.

Final week, it stated it had signed a deal to launch its self-driving taxis on the Uber platform in “a key market within the Center East later this yr”.

© 2025 AFP