Post by : Badri Ariffin

BEIJING — The prominent Chinese technology firm Baidu is set to make significant strides in Europe's autonomous driving sector. It has announced the commencement of test drives for its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Switzerland this December, collaborating with PostBus, the nation’s public transport provider.

This partnership marks the first time Baidu will conduct on-road tests in Europe, aligning with its strategy for global expansion in self-driving technology. The two companies aim to roll out a fully autonomous taxi service named “AmiGo” by early 2027, utilizing Apollo Go’s latest RT6 electric vehicles.

Once launched, the “AmiGo” fleet is anticipated to operate without traditional steering wheels, representing a significant advancement in autonomous vehicle innovation and trust in AI-driven transport solutions.

Baidu's venture into Europe comes after a series of international collaborations. In August, the company announced a partnership with Lyft to introduce robotaxis in the U.K. and Germany by 2026. Previously, it also revealed an alliance with Uber to expand Apollo Go services to international markets outside the U.S. and mainland China.

The competition in the robotaxi sector is intensifying. Fellow Chinese company Pony.ai has partnered with Stellantis to initiate similar trials in Luxembourg, while Waymo, an Alphabet-owned firm, is gearing up for trials in London next year. Furthermore, Uber has plans to conduct fully autonomous ride trials in the U.K. with startup Wayve by spring 2026.

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