Baidu Apollo's ride-hailing service platform, Apollo Go, has launched in Shenzhen's Nanshan District on a trial basis.
Beijing-based Baidu Inc. is a software services company that makes the leading Internet search engine in China. It was founded in 2000. Baidu Apollo is the company's autonomous vehicle platform, which it launched in 2017.
Last month, JIDU closed $400 million in Series A funding, which the Baidu unit said will help it continue development of a smart car with the goal of launching in 2023.
Apollo Go makes orbit in major Chinese cities
Shenzhen is the seventh city where Baidu has introduced its robotaxi services in China. Users will be able to hail a robotaxi via the Apollo Go app at one of approximately 50 stations, with daily operating hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Services will be centered around key downtown spots such as Shenzhen Talent Park. They will also cover surrounding residential and commercial areas, as well as entertainment and cultural sites, the company said. The service area is set to expand to more than 300 stations by the end of 2022. Baidu said the Nanshan District has a favorable policy environment and a strong road network.
In May 2021, the company launched a trial of its service in Beijing, becoming the first paid autonomous vehicle taxi service in China without a driver in the vehicle. It has since expanded to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Changsha, and Cangzhou.
Baidu said its goal is to expand Apollo Go operations into 65 cities across China by 2025 and 100 cities by 2030. The company had been trial running its autonomous driving taxis in Yizhuang , Haidian, and Shunyi in Beijing since October 2020.
As of Q3 2021, Apollo L4, the company's autonomous-driving mini shuttle bus, has accumulated over 10 million test miles.
Shenzhen testing ground for autonomous vehicles
Shenzhen's Nanshan District is home to top tech companies, including Tencent and Huawei. It is one of the most densely populated areas in South China.
The launch of Baidu's robotaxi services is set to drive further developments in autonomous driving in Shenzhen and accelerate the development of local intelligent-connected vehicles, according to Baidu.
Shenzhen-based Auto X Inc. announced in November that its fully driverless robotaxi service now covers 65 square miles of the city.
In December, Shenzhen-based BYD Co. and Beijing-based Momenta announced their joint venture “DiPi Intelligent Mobility Co.” Together, the companies said they hope to combine forces to scale their autonomous driving capabilities.
Article topics
Email Sign Up
Related Autonomous Vehicles News
