Baidu’s Apollo Go: Pioneering Autonomous Driving Trials in Dubai
In a landmark development for autonomous driving, Baidu Inc.’s autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go, has secured Dubai’s very first autonomous driving trial permit. This permission comes along with the initial batch of 50 autonomous driving test licenses, issued by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai. This milestone marks a significant step toward integrating advanced autonomous vehicle technology into the city’s public transportation ecosystem.
Since August, Apollo Go’s fleet of 50 autonomous vehicles has been actively conducting open-road testing within designated areas of urban Dubai. These trials, authorized by the newly granted permits issued in July, allow Apollo Go to operate on public roads, showcasing its sixth-generation autonomous vehicles, known as RT6. The announcement took center stage at the 4th Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport, where Apollo Go stood out as the sole platform allowed to run such trials on open roads, offering exclusive autonomous rides to the public.
Liang Zhang, Managing Director of EMEA for Baidu Apollo, expressed his enthusiasm about the project, highlighting the collaboration with Dubai’s RTA, which began in March. Zhang emphasized that leveraging Baidu’s expertise in autonomous driving technology and fleet operations will facilitate the seamless localization of services. The partnership aims to create a global benchmark for intelligent transportation, cementing Dubai’s reputation as a pioneer city in autonomous mobility.
This initiative signifies a historic achievement, positioning Apollo Go as the first autonomous driving platform to operate a sizable fleet in Dubai’s urban landscape. The swift progress follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed earlier in the year between Apollo Go and the RTA, underlining the commitment and efficiency in expanding autonomous driving capabilities internationally.
Looking forward, Apollo Go and Dubai’s RTA have ambitious plans to scale the autonomous vehicle fleet to over 1,000 fully driverless cars by 2028. This expansion aligns perfectly with Dubai’s strategic vision to accelerate the adoption of autonomous mobility solutions within its urban infrastructure, fostering a future-ready transportation network.
This batch of licenses is just one chapter in Apollo Go’s broader global expansion. Just the previous year, in November 2024, Apollo Go received its inaugural autonomous driving license in Hong Kong, marking its entry into right-hand-drive markets. Baidu’s autonomous platform continues to push boundaries worldwide, boasting impressive milestones such as 200 million kilometers of safe autonomous driving, 14 million public rides, and 100% fully driverless urban deployment in China.
Baidu integrates cutting-edge AI and autonomous driving technology into Apollo Go, ensuring safe, efficient, and environmentally friendly mobility options. The company’s global collaborations aim to shape the future of urban transportation, making intelligent and green transportation accessible across cities worldwide.
About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. As a leading AI company with a firm internet foundation, Baidu is publicly traded on NASDAQ under “BIDU” and on HKEX under “9888.” One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
For media inquiries, contact Intlcomm@baidu.com.
