Baidu Expands Apollo Go Robotaxis To Dubai, Abu Dhabi With 1,000+ Driverless Vehicles

Chinese tech giant Baidu has significantly advanced its autonomous ride-hailing service, Apollo Go, which has completed over 11 million rides globally since its 2019 launch and deployed more than 1,000 fully driverless vehicles across 15 cities. The service saw a 75% increase in rides in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 1.4 million rides, while Baidu reported first-quarter revenue of $4.5 billion, exceeding analyst expectations, and a 42% jump in quarterly profits. Baidu has expanded Apollo Go internationally, entering markets in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong, with plans to enter Switzerland and Turkey, aiming to capitalize on higher-priced ride-hailing markets. CEO Robin Li emphasized the company’s strategy to deepen presence in existing markets and strategically enter new ones, leveraging declining hardware costs and operational efficiencies to drive profitability. Apollo Go’s success is supported by Baidu’s long-term investments in autonomous driving technology and partnerships, such as with China’s CAR Inc. for autonomous vehicle rentals. Baidu positions Apollo Go as a global leader in autonomous ride-hailing, validated by complex traffic operations and cost-sensitive markets.