Baidu Opens Robotaxi Service in Shanghai with Apollo Go Ride-Hailing Platform

Rhea-AI Summary

Baidu has launched public testing of its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Shanghai, marking its fifth city of operation. This service features 150 stations for convenient access across the city, operating daily from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The company recently expanded Apollo Go to Tongzhou District in Beijing, with routes covering over 31 miles. An IHS report highlights that robotaxis could dominate China's future mobility market, making up over 60% and exceeding $201 billion by 2030.

Positive

• Expansion of Apollo Go to Shanghai enhances market presence of Baidu.
• Successful launch of robotaxi service in Tongzhou District, increasing operational reach.
• Projected growth of robotaxis in China's mobility market up to $201 billion by 2030.

Negative

• None.

BEIJING, Sep. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Baidu announced that it will begin public testing of Apollo Go in Shanghai, marking the fifth city where passengers have the ability to trial the robotaxi mobile platform. Baidu is the only company to offer this service in the three first-tier cities of Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai.

The Shanghai operation will include 150 stations opened in phases throughout the city to provide users convenient access to residential areas, commercial areas, offices and public transportation. Passengers can use the service from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day of the week.

This announcement comes on the heels of another milestone for Baidu Apollo – the expansion of Apollo Go to Tongzhou District in Beijing, where the service will enable residents and visitors of the suburb to experience travel in an autonomous vehicle. The first batch of routes in Tongzhou will cover a total of 22 stations– with a total distance over 31 miles, allowing for more than 100 trips every day.

According to a recent IHS Markit report, the major market potential for autonomous vehicles in the future will be pinned on business models such as robotaxis, which are estimated to account for more than 60 percent of China's future mobility sharing market by 2030, exceeding $201 billion. IHS also estimates that this portion of the market will be dominated by two to three robotaxi service providers, with the leading provider occupying more than 40 percent of the market share.

The autonomous driving industry in China has recently entered a new stage of development, characterized by trialing the implementation of large-scale applications. Wei Dong, vice president and chief safety operation officer of Baidu's Intelligent Driving Group, said that achieving this large-scale implementation requires three steps: regionalization, commercialization and verification via unmanned on-road operation. Baidu has already made headway in autonomous ride-hailing, achieving a 60% drop in cost per mile with the 5^th generation robotaxi vehicle release in June. With the launch in Shanghai, Baidu Apollo is continuing to deliver on China's vision of developing a world-leading autonomous driving market.

As of the end of August 2021, Apollo L4 autonomous driving accumulated 8.7 million test miles. Following the launch in Shanghai, Baidu plans to bring Apollo Go services to 25 more cities in the next three years, making autonomous driving a reality for 3 million people in China. 

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation. Baidu is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU", and on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "9888". Currently, one ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares. 

Media Contact:
intlcomm@baidu.com

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

FAQ

What is the Apollo Go robotaxi service by Baidu?

Apollo Go is a robotaxi service offered by Baidu, allowing passengers to hail autonomous vehicles for rides.

When did Baidu launch the Apollo Go service in Shanghai?

Baidu began public testing of the Apollo Go service in Shanghai on September 13, 2021.

How many stations are included in the Apollo Go service expansion in Shanghai?

The Apollo Go service in Shanghai includes 150 stations opened in phases throughout the city.

What is the significance of the IHS Markit report for Baidu's Apollo Go?

The report forecasts that robotaxis will account for over 60% of China's future mobility sharing market by 2030, indicating significant growth potential.

How is Baidu's Apollo Go impacting its market presence?

The launch in Shanghai and expansion to Tongzhou District boosts Baidu's visibility and operational capacity in the autonomous driving sector.