Baidu Apollo

History

2025: China launches world's first driverless self-driving car rental service in the cabin

In early July 2025, Chinese companies Baidu and Car announced the launch of the world's first self-driving car rental service. People over 18 can book a self-driving car.

The service is based on the Baidu Apollo autonomous driving platform. It involves the use of a fourth-level autopilot, which allows cars to move completely independently - without any human involvement.

𝓲

Фото: Baidu

To rent a robomobile, the user needs to indicate the time and place of his arrival through the Car mobile application. Next, the system will select the nearest car and direct it to the specified point. During the trip, users can flexibly change their route and make stops at different destinations. The only limitation is that all movements must be within the permitted operating area. You can rent an unmanned vehicle for a period of 4 hours to 7 days. After the end of the booking time, the car will independently go to the specified point.

The service's fleet includes Baidu's self-driving Apollo Go vehicles, which can seat up to three passengers. The cost of the trip is roughly in line with standard prices for short-term car rentals. All operational procedures are integrated with the Baidu Apollo autonomous driving system.

Apollo Go is Baidu's self-driving taxi service. According to the Chinese edition of The Paper, by June 2025, more than 11 million trips were made through this platform. Baidu offers robotaxi services in ten cities across China, and the largest fleet of such machines is located in Wuhan and has 600 units. In turn, Car specializes in leasing cars: its fleet reaches 160 thousand cars.^[1]

2022: Obtaining a commercial taxi licence without drivers

On August 8, 2022, the search engine developer Baidu announced that it had received permission to use fully unmanned robotaxis on the open roads of two Chinese cities, making it the first such company with an autonomous transport license in. PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

The permits come into force in August 2022, issued by the southwestern municipality of Chongqing and the central government of Wuhan, the document allows commercial robo-taxis from Baidu to offer trips to the population without a human driver in the car. A spokesman for Baidu noted that obtaining permission is an important step towards turning autopilot systems into a mass product.

Baidu was the first in China to receive a license for commercial taxi transportation without drivers

At the first stage, Baidu will launch five paid robotaxis in each of the districts. Cars will work from 9 to 17 hours daily in Wuhan and from 9:30 to 16:30 daily in Chongqin. In total, the robotaxi area covers 43 square meters. km in these two cities. The Baidu leadership is in talks with the authorities of Shanghai, Beijing, as well as Shenzhen about adding these cities to the zone of operation of an unmanned robo-taxi.

In July 2022, Baidu unveiled a version of its robo-taxi called the Apollo RT6, which the company said costs nearly 50% less than the previous model, opening up opportunities for cheaper rides. Apollo RT6 will receive fourth-level autopilot, which does not require human intervention, and to assess the situation on the road, the car is equipped with 8 lidars and 12 cameras. Baidu will double the number of robotaxis on Chinese roads to 600 cars by the end of 2022, according to Baidu Intelligence Driving Vice President Wei Dong.

China has set five levels for self-driving car test permits from T1 to T5, consistent with generally accepted levels of automation published by the Society of Automation Engineers (OIpA). T5 corresponds to level 5 of OIpA, which means a fully self-driving vehicle.^[2]

2021: Building a company to develop electric vehicles

On January 11, 2021, Baidu announced the creation of a new company that will focus on the development of electric vehicles. For this project, the Chinese Internet giant attracted the automaker Geely to cooperate.

As stated in a press release, Baidu Apollo will be an autonomous "daughter" of Baidu. At the same time, CNBC, citing its informant, claims that Geely will have a minority stake in the new structure. As part of this partnership, Geely will be directly manufacturing vehicles, while Baidu will focus on software and technology for electric machines.

Baidu set up Baidu Apollo to develop electric vehicles

The strategic partnership with Geely will focus on research, development and production of smart and connected electric vehicles. In particular, Baidu will be able to use the SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) architecture for electric cars.

The development of SEA took four years and cost about $2.5 billion. The peculiarity of this architecture lies in open source code, that is, it can be used not only by brands controlled by Geely (Volvo, smart, Lynk & Co and others), but also by third-party manufacturers.

The company attributed the partnership with Baidu to its transformation from a traditional automaker to a leading creator of transport technology focused on electric vehicles.

Geely shares rose 20% amid news of the agreement with Baidu. Baidu quotes rose 15%.

The electric vehicle market in China is one of the fastest growing. Authorities are backing it by giving companies direct subsidies and setting up charging stations. In 2020, sales of electric cars in the Chinese market increased by 4.4% year-on-year. According to forecasts of S&P Platts, by 2025, "cars on new energy" will account for 20% of the total sales of new cars in the PRC.^[3]

Notes