Baidu’s Apollo Go plans to launch taxis with no steering wheels in Switzerland as the race for robotaxis in Europe heats up
News Summary
Chinese tech giant Baidu announced that its robotaxi unit, Apollo Go, has formed a strategic partnership with PostBus in Switzerland. The companies aim to launch a public-facing, fully driverless taxi service named “AmiGo” by the first quarter of 2027, utilizing Apollo Go’s RT6 electric vehicles, with plans to remove the cars’ steering wheels once operations are stable. Test drives are scheduled to begin in December 2025, marking Baidu's most concrete step yet for robotaxi deployment in Europe. Baidu has also announced other international collaborations, including deploying robotaxis with U.S. ride-hailing company Lyft in the U.K. and Germany starting in 2026, and a partnership with Uber to deploy Apollo Go services outside mainland China and the U.S. later in 2025. Concurrently, other robotaxi firms are accelerating their expansion into Europe and the Middle East; Chinese operator Pony.ai will partner with Stellantis for tests in Luxembourg, while Alphabet’s Waymo and SoftBank-backed Wayve also plan to launch services in the U.K.
Background
Autonomous driving technology is a key area of intense competition for global tech giants and automakers, aiming to revolutionize transportation by reducing accidents, increasing efficiency, and lowering operational costs. Baidu's Apollo Go is one of China's leading autonomous ride-hailing services, operating regularly in several Chinese cities and accumulating extensive testing mileage and operational experience. In recent years, with the increasing maturity of technology and the gradual improvement of regulatory environments, autonomous driving companies worldwide are accelerating their expansion into international markets. The European market, with its advanced infrastructure, high consumer spending power, and openness to innovation, has become a strategic battleground for these companies. However, Europe's complex and fragmented regulatory frameworks, alongside high standards for data privacy and security, also pose unique challenges for entrants.
In-Depth AI Insights
What are the strategic implications of Baidu's aggressive international expansion in the global autonomous driving landscape? - Baidu's partnership with PostBus in Switzerland, alongside prior agreements with Lyft and Uber, indicates a multi-pronged strategy to rapidly gain operational experience and user bases in diverse markets through localized partnerships and existing ride-hailing platforms. - This approach not only helps Baidu de-risk its substantial R&D and deployment costs but also effectively mitigates regulatory risks in single markets, while building technological standards and brand influence globally. - The export of Chinese autonomous driving technology will intensify global competition with U.S. giants like Waymo and Cruise, likely accelerating technological iteration and fostering industry consolidation. How might partnerships with local public transport operators, such as PostBus in Switzerland, impact the long-term viability and scalability of robotaxi services? - Collaborating with established local public transport operators can significantly lower market entry barriers by leveraging their existing operational networks, infrastructure, and local user trust. - This model facilitates better adaptation to Europe's fragmented traffic regulations and urban planning; for instance, the PostBus collaboration in Switzerland can utilize its public service expertise to accelerate service launch and acceptance. - However, it might also limit Baidu's autonomy in technology integration and business model innovation, requiring a balance between partner interests and technological leadership to ensure flexibility for long-term scalable replication. In the accelerating global robotaxi race, what are the primary risks and opportunities investors should monitor? - Opportunities: Early market penetrators stand to build strong network effects and technological moats, particularly in regions with progressive regulations and high consumer acceptance. Technology leaders may also diversify revenue through licensing models. - Risks: Regulatory approval uncertainties, high R&D and deployment costs, potential safety incidents, and fierce competition from traditional automakers and other tech giants could lead to lower-than-expected investment returns. - Investors should closely track government policy directions on autonomous driving, technological maturity (especially L4 and above), and each company's path and timeline to commercial profitability.