China's Baidu Apollo International has been granted a licence to test its Apollo Go autonomous vehicles in Hong Kong, marking an important  step in the company's expansion beyond mainland China.

The licence, valid from 9 December 2024 to 8 December 2029, allows for trials of ten autonomous vehicles in North Lantau, with only one self-driving car operating on specified road sections during the initial phase.

The Transport Department of Hong Kong released a statement confirming the five-year licence, which stipulates that a backup operator must be present on board to assume control of the vehicle if necessary.

This move aligns with Hong Kong's efforts to promote autonomous vehicle technology since 2017 and follows the introduction of new legislation in March 2024 paving the way for wider trials on public roads.

This licence represents the first pilot approval issued by the Hong Kong government under the new regulatory framework.

Apollo Go, Baidu's robotaxi service, already operates in several Chinese cities, boasting the largest fleet in Wuhan, with over 400 vehicles.

A spokesperson for Apollo Go said: "Apollo Go looks forward to bringing the benefit of AI and autonomous driving technology to more countries and regions.

"This marks an important milestone in our journey towards globalisation."

Amidst intensifying competition to commercialise autonomous vehicles, Baidu has plans to launch Apollo Go in various markets outside mainland China, including Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East, as reported by the Wall Street Journal last month.

This expansion is indicative of the growing global interest and investment in autonomous vehicle technology.