Uber, Baidu to Deploy Robotaxis in Asia, Mideast

Uber and Baidu have announced a multi-year strategic partnership to deploy thousands of Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicles on the Uber platform in markets outside the U.S. and mainland China, with initial rollouts planned for Asia and the Middle East, including cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, later this year. The partnership will let Uber riders book fully driverless rides through the Uber app, leveraging Baidu’s experience of over 11 million autonomous rides in 15 global cities. This collaboration marks a shift for Uber from in-house autonomous vehicle development to forming strategic alliances. The partnership aims to make ridesharing more affordable, reliable, and accessible while potentially reducing operating costs through autonomous vehicle efficiencies. Shares of both Uber and Baidu rose following the announcement. The deal highlights the growing importance of international alliances in the autonomous mobility sector.