China’s Baidu, Inc. has announced a significant operation upgrade for Apollo Go, its autonomous ride-hailing service platform.
Apollo Go is now offering 24/7 autonomous driving service in selected areas of Wuhan, reportedly becoming China’s first provider to offer such service.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The extended service hours accommodate users with nighttime travel needs, ensuring a safer and more convenient service, the firm says.
This 24/7 service expansion is just one of several operational milestones Baidu says it has achieved in China. On 27 February 2024, Apollo Go launched fully driverless rides across the Yangtze River, covering both the north and south banks across the Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge and Wuhan Baishazhou Bridge.
Previously, in August 2023, Baidu introduced driverless airport transportation services in Wuhan, establishing itself as China’s pioneer in providing autonomous rides to and from airports.
On February 23, 2024, Apollo Go unveiled a similar service in Beijing, as Baidu was approved for robotaxi pilot operation on highways to Beijing Daxing Airport.
Apollo Go currently operates a total of 300 fully driverless vehicles in Wuhan.
The service has provided over 5 million cumulative rides as of January 2024.
Baidu and Apollo Go are actively working to bring fully autonomous ride hailing services to an even wider range of locations and users. Apollo Go currently offers robotaxi services in over 10 cities in China, including Beijing, Wuhan, Shenzhen, and Chongqing.
