Baidu Expands Robotaxi Reach via Uber Partnership and CAR Inc. Rental Service
Chinese tech giant Baidu has significantly advanced its autonomous vehicle strategy through two major initiatives. First, it announced a multi-year partnership with global ride-hailing leader Uber to deploy thousands of Baidu’s robotaxis on Uber’s platform in markets outside mainland China and the US, with initial deployments expected in Asia and the Middle East later this year. This collaboration aims to scale Baidu’s Apollo Go technology globally. Second, domestically, Baidu partnered with CAR Inc., China’s largest car rental platform, to launch a driverless car rental service in Wuhan. The service features Baidu’s sixth-generation RT6 vehicles, offering fully autonomous rides at a heavily discounted rate of RMB 88 per day. The initiative has seen immediate success, with all slots booked within days, appealing to a broad demographic including non-drivers and tourists. These moves highlight Baidu’s dual approach to expanding its robotaxi footprint through international strategic alliances and innovative domestic consumer models, reinforcing its position as a leader in the autonomous driving sector.
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Baidu Expands Robotaxi Reach via Uber Partnership and CAR Inc. Rental Service
Chinese tech giant Baidu has significantly advanced its autonomous vehicle strategy through two major initiatives. First, it announced a multi-year partnership with global ride-hailing leader Uber to deploy thousands of Baidu’s robotaxis on Uber’s platform in markets outside mainland China and the US, with initial deployments expected in Asia and the Middle East later this year. This collaboration aims to scale Baidu’s Apollo Go technology globally. Second, domestically, Baidu partnered with CAR Inc., China’s largest car rental platform, to launch a driverless car rental service in Wuhan. The service features Baidu’s sixth-generation RT6 vehicles, offering fully autonomous rides at a heavily discounted rate of RMB 88 per day. The initiative has seen immediate success, with all slots booked within days, appealing to a broad demographic including non-drivers and tourists. These moves highlight Baidu’s dual approach to expanding its robotaxi footprint through international strategic alliances and innovative domestic consumer models, reinforcing its position as a leader in the autonomous driving sector.
TechNode