Baidu's Apollo Go and K2's AutoGo Announce Fleet Expansion Plan in Abu Dhabi, Winning One of the Emirate's Inaugural Fully Driverless Commercial Permits

Rhea-AI Summary

Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) and UAE autonomous mobility partner AutoGo announced they won one of Abu Dhabi's inaugural fully driverless commercial permits and signed a next‑phase agreement to scale their fleet to hundreds of autonomous vehicles by 2026. The permit authorizes public robotaxi service and follows months of fully driverless public-road testing. Apollo Go reported 240 million autonomous kilometers, >b>250,000 weekly rides, and 17 million cumulative rides as of Oct 31, 2025, underpinning plans to build Abu Dhabi's largest fully driverless fleet.

Positive

• Inaugural permit to operate fully driverless robotaxis in Abu Dhabi
• Plan to scale to hundreds of vehicles by 2026
• 240 million autonomous kilometers logged by Apollo Go
• Apollo Go records > 250,000 weekly rides and 17 million cumulative rides

Negative

• None.

• Apollo Go and AutoGo signed a next-phase agreement to scale their fleet to hundreds of vehicles by 2026, advancing the goal of building Abu Dhabi's largest fully driverless fleet.
• The partners won one of the inaugural permits to operate fully driverless commercial robotaxi service for the public in Abu Dhabi.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888) today announced that its autonomous ride-hailing service, Apollo Go, and AutoGo, a leading UAE-based autonomous mobility company, have entered a significantly expanded phase of their partnership aimed at scaling the fleet to hundreds of autonomous vehicles in Abu Dhabi. This next-phase partnership was signed as the partners secured one of Abu Dhabi's inaugural fully driverless commercial permits issued by Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), readying the fleet to commence fully driverless robotaxi service for the public. With the permit now in place and hundreds of new vehicles to be deployed, both partners are advancing rapidly toward the goal of large-scale fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi by 2026.

This permit builds upon the partnership's progress since its March announcement, including months of fully driverless testing on public roads. It authorizes the fleet to officially provide robotaxi services to Abu Dhabi's residents and visitors. These milestones further confirm the fleet's readiness for scaled deployment, advancing the ultimate goal of building Abu Dhabi's largest fully driverless fleet.

"We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with AutoGo in Abu Dhabi and to secure one of the emirate's inaugural fully driverless commercial permits," said Liang Zhang, Managing Director of EMEA, Baidu Apollo. "Moving from our initial announcement to fully driverless testing in just a few months, and now securing the permit, shows incredible potential and strong support for autonomous mobility in the UAE. This next phase, focused on larger-scale operation, brings us one step closer to a future of safer, smarter, and more sustainable transportation for the region."

Sean Teo, Managing Director of K2 said, "AutoGo is committed to advancing Abu Dhabi's position as a global leader in smart and autonomous vehicle technology, in line with the vision of the SAVI cluster. Our partnership with Baidu's Apollo Go is instrumental in this mission. The fully driverless commercial permit is a testament to our combined capabilities, and we are excited to expand our cooperation to build Abu Dhabi's largest driverless robotaxi fleet, transforming the mobility landscape of the UAE."

The announcement was made during the ongoing Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (November 10–15), where Apollo Go and AutoGo are showcasing their fully driverless ride-hailing service. Dr. Abdulla Hamad Al Ghfeli, Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), participated in a pilot ride of the service.

As a leading autonomous ride‑hailing service globally, Apollo Go has logged more than 240 million autonomous kilometers with a strong safety record. With a global footprint across 22 cities, Apollo Go's weekly ride count surpasses 250,000 lately, and it has completed more than 17 million cumulative rides as of October 31, 2025. Looking ahead, Apollo Go and AutoGo will scale commercial robotaxi services to reach more users and advance Abu Dhabi's smart city vision.

About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888." One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

Media Contact
intlcomm@baidu.com 

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

FAQ

What does Baidu (BIDU) winning a fully driverless permit in Abu Dhabi mean for investors?

The permit authorizes public robotaxi operations and supports Baidu's plan to scale to hundreds of vehicles by 2026, indicating potential commercialization progress.

How many vehicles will Apollo Go and AutoGo deploy in Abu Dhabi by 2026?

The partners plan to scale the fleet to hundreds of autonomous vehicles by 2026.

When was the fully driverless commercial permit for Abu Dhabi announced for BIDU partners?

The permit and expanded partnership were announced on November 11, 2025 during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week.

What operational scale has Apollo Go achieved globally as of October 31, 2025?

Apollo Go logged 240 million autonomous kilometers, >b>250,000 weekly rides, and 17 million cumulative rides as of Oct 31, 2025.

Will the Abu Dhabi permit allow public robotaxi service now for BIDU's Apollo Go?

Yes. The permit authorizes the fleet to commence fully driverless robotaxi service for Abu Dhabi residents and visitors.

Where and when did Baidu and AutoGo announce their expanded Abu Dhabi robotaxi plans?

The announcement took place during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week (Nov 10–15, 2025).