China’s Baidu Brings Futuristic Autonomous Taxis to Europe

May 16, 2025

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Baidu is reportedly getting ready to launch its inaugural driverless taxi service in Europe, increasing its autonomous mobility ambitions.

In line with a Wall Road Journal report citing educated sources, Baidu’s autonomous taxi service, Apollo Go, is scheduled for testing in Switzerland earlier than year-end.

Rising competitors within the sector is driving the growth of self-driving taxis into Turkey and the Center East.

In a transfer towards autonomous mobility, Uber said this month that it’ll deploy driverless taxis in Europe subsequent 12 months, partnering with China’s Momenta to speed up its efforts.

The CEO of Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, said on the time that the initiative goals to create a future the place extra riders worldwide can profit from dependable and cost-effective autonomous mobility.

Alphabet-owned Waymo has rolled out robotaxis in a number of U.S. states, together with Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, with additional growth to Georgia and Japan set for this 12 months.

Driverless taxis have encountered opposition in sure areas, as San Francisco metropolis officers cite their function in obstructing emergency responders and worsening site visitors.

In February of final 12 months, an unoccupied Waymo taxi was vandalised, its home windows had been smashed, it was doused in paint, and finally set on fireplace. That very same month, one other Waymo car was concerned in a collision with a bike owner, allegedly failing to detect the rider who was obscured behind a truck at an intersection.

China Baidu robotaxis in Switzerland

On the time, a Waymo spokesperson defined that the bike owner had been hidden from view by the truck and emerged rapidly behind it, shifting into the trail of the Waymo car.

Baidu has been deploying its absolutely autonomous Apollo Go taxis throughout China for a number of years, working with out the necessity for human security drivers.

Wuhan stands as its largest market, with over 500 robotaxis offering round the clock service throughout greater than half of the town.

Baidu’s growth into Switzerland follows a partnership with PostAuto, a subsidiary of Swiss Publish that oversees public bus operations. Neither Baidu nor Swiss Publish responded instantly to requests for remark.

In conclusion, Baidu’s growth into Switzerland by way of its collaboration with PostAuto marks a essential milestone within the world driverless revolution. As autonomous transportation strikes past experimental phases, this initiative might redefine city mobility throughout Europe, setting the stage for broader adoption.