Baidu Granted China's First-Ever Permits for Commercial Fully Driverless Ride-Hailing Services
BEIJING, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888) ("Baidu" or the "Company"), a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, today announced that the company has secured the first permits in China to offer commercial fully driverless robotaxi services to the public on open roads. Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service, is now authorized to collect fares for robotaxi rides - completely without human drivers in the car - in Chongqing and Wuhan, two of China's largest megacities. Amid increasing regulatory approval of the expansion of autonomous vehicles (AVs), the permits reflect regulatory authorities' strong recognition and trust in the strength of Baidu's autonomous driving technology. They also mark a key turning point for the future of mobility in China, leading to an eventual expansion of driverless ride-hailing services to paying users across the country.
- - Baidu has become the first and only company to offer fully driverless robotaxi services to the public in China, without human drivers in the car.
- - The new permits will also allow Baidu to put fully driverless robotaxis on open roads in Chongqing and Wuhan during the daytime.
- - China is the first country in the world that allows fared fully driverless robotaxi operation in two megacities.
- BEIJING, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888) ("Baidu" or the "Company"), a leading AI company with strong internet foundation, today announced that the company has secured the first permits in China to offer commercial fully driverless robotaxi services to the public on open roads.