Baidu becomes first in China to offer driverless airport rides

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Baidu has unveiled its ambitious plans for the expansion of Apollo Go, its autonomous ride-hailing platform, in China.

The company has taken a significant step by extending its driverless car service to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, marking a groundbreaking development.

This initiative represents China’s first-ever autonomous ride-hailing service connecting urban areas and an airport, as well as seamlessly integrating autonomous vehicles into both urban roads and highways. Initially available through invitation to selected Apollo Go users, the service is scheduled to be accessible to the general public in September.

Following this airport expansion, Apollo Go is set to further proliferate its presence in Wuhan, targeting key areas like Jingkai District, Hanyang District, East and West Lake District, Qiaokou District, and other core regions within the Jiangbei area.

Apollo Go has been making substantial strides in the autonomous ride-hailing sector, boasting over 3.3 million cumulative orders by June 30, 2023. In the second quarter of this year alone, it recorded a remarkable 149% year-on-year increase, providing 714,000 rides.

Baidu’s commitment to advancing fully autonomous vehicles is evident as it operates a fully driverless robotaxi fleet in five cities, including Beijing, Shenzhen, and now Wuhan. This milestone positions Baidu as the first company to conduct fully autonomous driving commercial operations and testing across multiple cities in China. Baidu and Apollo Go’s efforts signal a promising future for widespread autonomous vehicle adoption.

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