China’s Baidu ramps up robotaxi ambitions amid global AI push

China’s tech giant Baidu is accelerating its driver-free taxi business, positioning itself for a global push in the robotaxi market.

In recent years, Baidu’s robotaxi service, branded Apollo Go, has logged millions of rides across multiple Chinese cities. Now the company plans to expand internationally, aiming to bring its autonomous cars to markets in Europe and Asia. 

Baidu claims its vehicles are designed to operate without a safety driver under certain conditions. While the fleet is still relatively small compared to traditional ride-hailing, it has reported strong uptake and plans for scale-up. 

This push places Baidu squarely in competition with the Waymo-backed western players, which currently dominate in markets like the U.S. But China’s relative regulatory freedom and strong local supply chain give Baidu a potential edge. 

Still, industry watchers caution that true profitability remains elusive. High development costs, infrastructure hurdles and public-safety concerns mean full commercialisation could take years. 

In short, Baidu’s robotaxi drive is a key example of China’s broader strategy: to lead not just in AI research, but in real-world, high-tech transportation services. The global race for driverless mobility is well and truly underway.