Baidu-backed Apollo Go Launches First Overseas Driverless Taxi Service in Abu Dhabi
Apollo Go, the autonomous ride-hailing subsidiary of Chinese tech giant Baidu, has officially launched fully driverless commercial taxi services in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This milestone marks the company's first overseas deployment of such technology open to the general public. The service is operated in strategic partnership with AutoGo, a UAE-based autonomous mobility firm, allowing both residents and tourists to hail completely autonomous vehicles through the AutoGo mobile application. Initial operations are concentrated on Yas Island, with plans for gradual expansion across other areas of the emirate. Apollo Go secured one of Abu Dhabi’s earliest permits for fully driverless commercial operations in November 2025, paving the way for this launch. Both Baidu and AutoGo have announced intentions to deepen their collaboration, aiming to deploy hundreds of autonomous vehicles throughout 2026. This ambitious expansion seeks to establish the largest fully driverless fleet in the city, highlighting significant progress in the international commercialization of autonomous driving technology and strengthening technological ties between China and the Middle East.
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Baidu-backed Apollo Go Launches First Overseas Driverless Taxi Service in Abu Dhabi
Apollo Go, the autonomous ride-hailing subsidiary of Chinese tech giant Baidu, has officially launched fully driverless commercial taxi services in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This milestone marks the company's first overseas deployment of such technology open to the general public. The service is operated in strategic partnership with AutoGo, a UAE-based autonomous mobility firm, allowing both residents and tourists to hail completely autonomous vehicles through the AutoGo mobile application. Initial operations are concentrated on Yas Island, with plans for gradual expansion across other areas of the emirate. Apollo Go secured one of Abu Dhabi’s earliest permits for fully driverless commercial operations in November 2025, paving the way for this launch. Both Baidu and AutoGo have announced intentions to deepen their collaboration, aiming to deploy hundreds of autonomous vehicles throughout 2026. This ambitious expansion seeks to establish the largest fully driverless fleet in the city, highlighting significant progress in the international commercialization of autonomous driving technology and strengthening technological ties between China and the Middle East.
TechNode