Baidu to Pilot Robotaxis in Switzerland, Eyes European Market

BEIJING — Baidu (BIDU), the Chinese technology titan, is accelerating its push into the European autonomous vehicle market. The company announced Wednesday that its Apollo Go robotaxi unit will commence test drives in Switzerland this December, marking a significant step in the race to deploy self-driving vehicles on European roads.

This initiative will see Baidu’s Apollo Go collaborate strategically with PostBus, Switzerland’s national public transport operator. The partnership aims to launch a fully driverless taxi service, christened “AmiGo,” utilizing Apollo Go’s RT6 electric vehicles, by the first quarter of 2027, according to a company press release. A bold ambition of the project involves the eventual removal of the steering wheels in the deployed robotaxis, further solidifying their autonomous operation.

The impending December tests underscore Baidu’s most concrete European expansion plans yet. This move signals a proactive effort to tap into the potentially lucrative European autonomous transportation market, which is expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years.

Baidu’s European ambitions are not limited to Switzerland. In August, the company revealed its intention to partner with Lyft to deploy robotaxis in the U.K. and Germany, slated to begin in 2026. Prior to that, a collaboration with Uber was announced to introduce Apollo Go robotaxis on the ride-hailing platform outside of the U.S. and mainland China later this year. These partnerships illustrate Baidu’s strategy to leverage existing ride-hailing infrastructures to expedite robotaxi deployment.

Competition in the autonomous vehicle sector is intensifying, with numerous companies vying for a foothold in the European and Middle Eastern markets. These regions are viewed as key battlegrounds for autonomous vehicle firms, following initial operational build-up in the U.S. and China.

Pony.ai, another Chinese robotaxi operator, recently announced a collaboration with Stellantis to initiate tests in Luxembourg in the coming months, with plans to broaden its operations to other European cities next year. This collaboration highlights the strategic importance of partnerships with established automotive manufacturers for accessing established supply chains and vehicle production expertise.

Meanwhile, Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving technology arm, announced plans to begin tests in London, with aspirations to launch its self-driving taxi service there next year. Uber also announced plans to partner with Wayve to trial fully autonomous rides in the U.K. These developments underscore the aggressive pursuit of autonomous vehicle deployment in Europe by major industry players.

The strategic implications of these moves are significant. The European market is characterized by stringent regulatory frameworks and diverse driving conditions, presenting both challenges and opportunities for autonomous vehicle developers. Success in this market will require not only advanced technological capabilities but also strong partnerships with local operators and a deep understanding of European regulations. This partnership between Baidu and PostBus highlights the importance of aligning autonomous vehicle technology with existing public transport infrastructure, which could be a key factor in expediting acceptance and adoption of robotaxis in Europe.