Baidu Inc. has begun commercial operations of its Apollo Go autonomous ride‑hailing platform in Abu Dhabi, deploying a fleet of hundreds of fully driverless vehicles on Yas Island under a permit zone for autonomous vehicles. The service is accessed through the AutoGo app, a partnership that began in March 2025 and was enabled by a commercial‑operation permit secured in November 2025.
The launch follows Apollo Go’s record of more than 240 million autonomous kilometers worldwide, including 140 million in fully driverless mode. By extending the fleet to Abu Dhabi, Baidu demonstrates that its Level 4 technology can scale beyond China’s borders and operate safely in a new regulatory environment, positioning the company to capture a share of the growing global autonomous‑mobility market.
Baidu’s financials provide context for the significance of the expansion. In the third quarter of 2025, the company reported revenue of $4.38 billion, a decline of 8.4% year‑over‑year, and earnings per share of $1.56, down from $2.37 in the prior year. Despite the revenue contraction, Baidu’s EPS beat analyst expectations by $0.24, largely due to disciplined cost management and a favorable mix of high‑margin services. The company’s guidance for the fourth quarter and full year reflects confidence in its autonomous‑mobility strategy, with expectations of continued growth in the Apollo Go segment offsetting headwinds in other areas.
Liang Zhang, Managing Director of EMEA at Baidu Apollo, said the rapid deployment “highlights the technical readiness of Apollo Go, the strong operational capabilities of our partnership, and the steadfast support of local regulatory bodies.” AutoGo’s Sean Teo added that the transition to live robotaxi operations marks an important milestone in Abu Dhabi’s autonomous‑mobility journey.
The Abu Dhabi launch underscores Baidu’s broader strategy to export its full‑stack autonomous‑driving platform, compete with global leaders such as Waymo, and leverage its experience in autonomous‑vehicle testing in Hong Kong and Dubai. By securing a commercial permit and demonstrating operational scale, Baidu strengthens its competitive position and signals its readiness to pursue additional international markets.
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