Uber and Baidu join forces to bring driverless cars to global markets

Uber and China’s Baidu have joined forces for a multi-year strategic partnership to deploy thousands of Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles (AVs) on Uber’s platform across multiple global markets outside of the US and mainland China.

The partnership aims to increase the supply of affordable and reliable ridesharing options by bringing Baidu’s driverless cars onto Uber’s network. It marks another major deal for Uber, which has previously partnered with Apollo Go’s domestic competitors, including Pony AI, Momenta, and WeRide.

The first deployments are expected in Asia and the Middle East later this year, with plans to expand gradually into additional markets. Once operational, passengers will be able to book Apollo Go AVs directly through the Uber app.

As of now, Apollo Go has deployed an operational fleet of over 1,000 fully driverless vehicles globally with its global footprint spanning 15 cities, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Its cumulative rides to the public have surpassed 11 million, according to the release.

“This partnership brings together two of the world’s most iconic technology companies to help shape the future of mobility,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber. “As the world’s largest platform of its kind, spanning mobility, delivery, and freight, Uber is uniquely positioned to help AV leaders such as Baidu bring their autonomous technology to the world."

"We are committed to bringing the benefit of autonomous driving technology to more people in more markets, and this partnership with Uber represents a major milestone in deploying our technology on a global scale," said Robin Li, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Baidu. "We look forward to working with Uber to deliver safe and efficient autonomous mobility solutions to riders around the world."

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to Uber for more information.

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Recently, Uber has forged a flurry of AV partnerships, strategically positioning itself in the fast-growing robotaxi market to safeguard its core ride-hailing business.

It has reportedly struck deals to integrate AVs from Waymo, Volkswagen, May Mobility, and Pony AI onto its platform across global markets. Additionally, the company is acquiring direct stakes in some of these partners as part of the agreements, according to TechCrunch.

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