Uber and Baidu will launch thousands of unmanned taxis outside the US and China
Uber and Baidu are launching a joint project that will see thousands of Apollo Go autonomous cars appear on Uber's platform. It is planned that these drones will operate in various global markets outside the US and mainland China - primarily in Asia and the Middle East, where the first launches are expected by the end of 2025.
Here's What We Know
The collaboration aims to expand the range of affordable and reliable ride-sharing options by combining Uber's platform and logistics expertise with Baidu's proven autonomous driving technology. The latter, through its subsidiary Apollo Go, already operates more than 1,000 drones in 15 Chinese cities and has served more than 11 million rides - one of the largest AV deployment experiences in the world.
Unlike Uber's previous attempts to build its own drone systems, the current strategy is a reliance on partnerships. The company already works with Waymo, Motional, and Volkswagen, and now adds one of the most advanced players in the Chinese market to the list.
The deal could also affect the geopolitical landscape in autonomous transport: with the US and China maintaining a technological rivalry, companies are moving to collaborate beyond their own borders. The robotaxi segment is becoming a global rather than a local market, and Uber seems keen to take a leading position in it - albeit not through its own developments, but through the integration of others'.
Source: PR Newswire
