Baidu and Uber Forge Global Autonomous Vehicle Partnership
Baidu has announced a significant partnership with Uber,aiming to deploy its autonomous vehicles on Uber’s platform outside of the United States and Continental China. This collaboration is set to begin with placements in Asia and the Middle East later this year, with the intention of showcasing Baidu’s apollo autonomous vehicles on Uber’s global network over several years.
The news of the partnership saw Baidu’s stock increase by 4.5%, while Uber’s shares rose by more then 1%.This move is expected to facilitate baidu’s international expansion of its driverless car business beyond China. Simultaneously, Uber gains a seasoned partner in the autonomous driving sector, bolstering its position against global competitors.
Under the new agreement, users requesting a ride through the uber app will have the option to select an Apollo GO car, which operates without a driver.Baidu’s Robotaxi service has been operational in major Chinese cities,including Beijing,since 2021,allowing users to hail an Apollo vehicle via its app.
The Beijing-based company has expressed ambitions for broader international market presence. Baidu previously announced plans to launch autonomous driving testing and services in Dubai this year, and reports suggest potential expansion into Europe as well.
Through its collaboration with Uber,Baidu secures a partner with a widely adopted application and a presence in 15,000 cities worldwide. This partnership comes as Uber itself has sought technological allies following the divestment of its own autonomous vehicle division.
“As the world’s largest platform covering mobility, delivery, and freight, Uber is uniquely positioned to help AV developers, like Baidu, bring their autonomous technology to the world,” stated Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi.
This advancement occurs in a landscape where other major players, such as Waymo, Google’s self-driving car company, are also advancing their autonomous driving initiatives.
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