Baidu's European robotaxi ambitions start with Switzerland and Turkey

The future of getting around might just involve electric cars that drive themselves, and a major player from China is looking to bring that reality to Europe. Baidu is reportedly getting ready to launch its self-driving taxi service, known as Apollo Go, in both Switzerland and Turkey. This is a significant step for the company as it looks beyond its home turf and into new international markets.

Sources familiar with the plans say Baidu is currently talking with PostAuto, a company in Switzerland that runs public buses and is part of Swiss Post. The idea is to work together to launch the Apollo Go robotaxi service there. As part of this plan, Baidu intends to set up a local company in Switzerland in the next few months. The goal is to start testing self-driving technology before the end of this year. Besides Switzerland, Baidu also has its sights set on Turkey for launching Apollo Go.

Baidu jumped into the world of autonomous driving technology back in 2013, making it one of the first companies in China to explore this cutting-edge field. Since then, its Apollo Go service has grown considerably. Currently, you can find their robotaxis operating in more than ten cities across mainland China. These services have been giving riders a glimpse into a future where their ride arrives and takes them where they need to go without a human driver behind the wheel.

Expanding outside of China is a logical next step for Baidu. Last year, in November, the government in Hong Kong gave Apollo Go special pilot licenses. These licenses allowed the company to start testing its self-driving cars in specific areas of the city. Just recently, earlier this month, Baidu's unit in Hong Kong was given the green light to expand these testing areas, showing progress and increasing confidence in their technology. While the source doesn't mention specific vehicle types, services like robotaxis use electric cars to provide a clean and efficient transportation solution for the future.

Baidu isn't the only Chinese company pushing the boundaries of self-driving technology and looking overseas. Smaller companies like WeRide, Pony AI, and Momenta are also active in the robotaxi space and are making their own plans to expand internationally. For instance, in September 2024, WeRide teamed up with Uber to help bring its robotaxis onto the Uber platform. This partnership quickly led to the companies starting robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi in December 2024. Just last month, WeRide and Uber grew their partnership to include Dubai.

Showing just how fast this technology is moving and how companies are working together, WeRide and Uber recently expanded their partnership even further earlier this month. Their agreement now covers robotaxi services in fifteen additional cities. Not to be left out, Pony AI and Momenta also announced their own strategic partnerships with Uber earlier this month. These deals mean that Pony AI and Momenta plan to bring their robotaxis to the Uber platform as well, setting up a competitive but collaborative global race in the autonomous ride-hailing market that will undoubtedly feature electric vehicles prominently.

Baidu's planned launches in Switzerland and Turkey put it directly into this global competition. Setting up a local company and beginning testing takes time and effort, but Baidu's history in autonomous driving and its operational experience in China and Hong Kong suggest they are serious about the European market. The potential success in Switzerland and Turkey will give the green light to Apollo Go to expand to even more cities and countries, potentially changing how people think about transportation and the role of electric cars in urban mobility.

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