Baidu's Apollo Go Commences Fully Driverless Commercial Ride-Hailing in Dubai, Partners with Dubai Taxi Company

Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) launched its Apollo Go fully driverless commercial ride‑hailing service in Dubai on April 1, 2026, marking Apollo Go's first international app deployment.

Rhea-AI Summary

Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) launched its Apollo Go fully driverless commercial ride‑hailing service in Dubai on April 1, 2026, marking Apollo Go's first international app deployment.

The rollout, in partnership with Dubai Taxi Company and RTA, follows Dubai's first driverless testing permit and supports plans for a fleet of over 1,000 autonomous vehicles.

Apollo Go has completed > 20 million rides and accumulated > 300 million autonomous kilometers, including > 190 million km of fully driverless operations.

Positive

• Dubai driverless permit received in January 2026 enabling commercial driverless operations
• Plan to deploy a fleet of 1,000+ autonomous vehicles in Dubai over coming years
• Operational scale: > 20 million rides completed worldwide
• Fleet mileage: > 300 million autonomous km, including > 190 million fully driverless km
• First international app deployment of Apollo Go via the Apollo Go app in Dubai

Negative

• Commercial service is dependent on continued Dubai regulatory approvals including the initial driverless permit
• Planned deployment of > 1,000 vehicles is a multi‑year rollout with no precise timeline disclosed

Argus Apr 1 session

+0.43% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – BIDU

In the Apr 1 session, BIDU gained 0.43%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement advances Baidu’s Apollo Go strategy by moving Dubai from pilots and permits to ful...

Analysis

This announcement advances Baidu’s Apollo Go strategy by moving Dubai from pilots and permits to fully driverless commercial ride-hailing, backed by local partner DTC and the RTA. It builds on earlier partnerships in Abu Dhabi, Europe and Switzerland, and on Apollo Go’s more than 20 million rides and 300 million autonomous kilometers. Investors may track fleet scaling toward 1,000+ vehicles and regulatory progress across regions.

Key Figures

Planned Dubai AV fleet: more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles Dubai smart mobility goal: 25% of all transportation trips smart and driverless by 2030 Cumulative Apollo Go rides: over 20 million rides +3 more

Planned Dubai AV fleet

more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles

Deployment plan announced March 2025 for Dubai over coming years

Dubai smart mobility goal

25% of all transportation trips smart and driverless by 2030

Dubai government vision cited by DTC CEO

Cumulative Apollo Go rides

over 20 million rides

Global Apollo Go operations as of February 2026

Weekly ride peak

more than 300,000 weekly rides

Apollo Go Q4 2025 peak weekly volume

Total autonomous kilometers

over 300 million kilometers

Apollo Go fleets’ accumulated autonomous driving distance

Fully driverless kilometers

more than 190 million kilometers

Apollo Go fully driverless operations within total autonomous distance

Previous Partnership Reports

5 past events · Latest: Feb 10

Same Type 5 events

1. Feb 10

   Dubai partnership

   24h Move

   +0.5%

   Uber and Baidu partner to launch Apollo Go rides on Uber app in Dubai.

2. Oct 22

   Switzerland rollout

   24h Move

   -1.8%

   Apollo Go partners with PostBus to deploy autonomous AmiGo service in Switzerland.

3. Aug 04

   Lyft Europe deal

   24h Move

   +1.8%

   Lyft and Baidu agree to deploy Apollo Go RT6 across European markets via Lyft.

4. Aug 04

   Lyft Europe detail

   24h Move

   +1.8%

   Further details on Lyft–Baidu European autonomous rollout using RT6 vehicles.

5. Mar 28

   Abu Dhabi robotaxis

   24h Move

   -5.1%

   Apollo Go partners with Autogo to build Abu Dhabi’s largest fully driverless fleet.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

fully driverless, ride-hailing, autonomous vehicles, driverless taxis, +1 more

5 terms

fully driverless technical

"launches a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai via the Apollo Go app"

"Fully driverless" describes a vehicle that can operate and navigate entirely on its own, without any human input or oversight. It functions like an autonomous robot, using sensors and computers to drive safely through traffic and reach destinations. This level of automation matters to investors because it signals advancements in transportation technology that could transform mobility, reduce costs, and create new business opportunities.

ride-hailing technical

"fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai via the Apollo Go app"

A ride-hailing service is a mobile app or online platform that matches passengers with drivers who provide on-demand, paid transportation; think of it like ordering a taxi through your phone the way you order a meal. It matters to investors because these services can scale quickly, generate fees and data without owning many vehicles, and face important factors such as local rules, driver costs, and customer growth that directly affect future profits and risk.

autonomous vehicles technical

"plan — announced in March 2025 — to deploy a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles in Dubai"

Vehicles that use on-board sensors, cameras and software to navigate and drive without a human actively controlling them; think of them as robotic chauffeurs that can perceive roads, make decisions and follow traffic rules. For investors, they matter because they can reshape transportation costs, create new revenue streams (rides, logistics, software) and change regulatory and liability risks, so their adoption affects manufacturers, tech suppliers, insurers and transportation demand.

driverless taxis technical

"roll out the operations of driverless taxis in Dubai, marking a significant milestone"

Driverless taxis are vehicles that use sensors, cameras and computer software to navigate and carry passengers without a human behind the wheel — think of a robotic chauffeur that picks you up on demand. They matter to investors because they can change transportation economics: lowering labor costs, creating new revenue streams, shifting regulatory risks, and requiring heavy upfront technology and infrastructure investment, all of which affect profits and growth prospects.

driverless testing permit regulatory

"In January 2026, Apollo Go received Dubai's first-ever driverless testing permit for fully autonomous vehicles"

A driverless testing permit is an official authorization that allows a company to operate self-driving vehicles on public roads without a human safety driver behind the wheel. For investors, this permit is like a green light to run real-world experiments and gather data at scale, reducing regulatory roadblocks and signaling progress toward commercial deployment, but it also brings scrutiny around safety, liability and public acceptance that can affect a company’s costs and timeline.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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• Apollo Go launches a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai via the Apollo Go app, marking the platform's first international app deployment.
• Collaboration with Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) powers Apollo Go's autonomous mobility expansion in the emirate.

DUBAI, UAE, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888) today announced that its autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go, in partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has launched a fully driverless commercial ride-hailing service in Dubai via the Apollo Go app, marking the platform's first international app deployment and a major milestone in the region. This comes alongside Apollo Go's strategic collaboration with Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), the emirate's leading mobility service provider, bringing strong local operational expertise to support the service.

The Apollo Go app is now available in Dubai, allowing residents and visitors to hail fully driverless rides. This launch represents a significant step forward in Apollo Go's plan — announced in March 2025 — to deploy a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles in Dubai over the next few years. The collaboration with DTC further strengthens local operations and underscores the commercialization of fully autonomous mobility in the emirate.

"Our partnership with DTC represents a new chapter for autonomous mobility in Dubai. By combining our cutting-edge technology with DTC's local expertise, and through the launch of the Apollo Go app, our first international app deployment, we are creating a safe, efficient and scalable ride-hailing service that sets a new standard for the region. We are proud to contribute to Dubai's vision for smart, future-ready transportation," said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group.

Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO, DTC, said, "Dubai Taxi Company is proud and excited to be among the first entities to roll out the operations of driverless taxis in Dubai, marking a significant milestone in advancing the emirate's vision for smart and sustainable mobility. This initiative is in line with DTC's innovation-driven strategy and its commitment to delivering future-ready services that elevate the customer experience. We are grateful to our strategic partner, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), for their unwavering support and the development of a comprehensive infrastructure that enables the seamless deployment of driverless taxis, aligned with the ambition of transforming 25% of all transportation trips into smart and driverless journeys by 2030."

"We are equally proud to partner with Baidu Inc. to bring this future-forward technology to life, combining global innovation with Dubai's pioneering spirit. The successful trials conducted over the past few months have demonstrated the vehicles' readiness, particularly in terms of safety, reliability, and operational efficiency, reinforcing our confidence in scaling this initiative," he added.

This commercial launch follows a key milestone earlier this year. In January 2026, Apollo Go received Dubai's first-ever driverless testing permit for fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver. This regulatory approval enables Baidu to operate fully autonomous ride-hailing services in Dubai in the first quarter of 2026, positioning the city as a strategic hub for autonomous mobility innovation. Also in January 2026, Baidu inaugurated the Apollo Go Park in Dubai, which serves as the company's first overseas operations and management hub, supporting plans for a fleet of over 1,000 autonomous vehicles in the coming years.

Dubai marks a key strategic hub in Apollo Go's growing global network, as it continues to expand its footprint worldwide. As of February 2026, Apollo Go has completed over 20 million rides worldwide, with weekly rides peaking at more than 300,000 during Q4 2025. Its fleets have accumulated over 300 million autonomous kilometers, including more than 190 million kilometers of fully driverless operations, with an outstanding safety record.

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.

About DTC

DTC was recognised as a public joint stock company under Law No. (21) of 2023. The Company is a leading provider of comprehensive mobility solutions in Dubai, operating a fleet of more than 11,000 vehicles, including more than 6,200 taxis. DTC was established in 1994 to operate a fleet of taxis and has since expanded to offer an extensive range of integrated mobility solutions across four key business lines: taxis, VIP limousines, buses and last mile delivery bike services. DTC is the number one taxi operator by fleet size in Dubai with approximately 45% market share. In 2025, the Company's taxis and limousines completed 53 million trips.

Media Contact
intlcomm@baidu.com

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What does Baidu's April 1, 2026 Apollo Go launch in Dubai mean for BIDU shareholders?

It signals international commercialization of Apollo Go and potential revenue expansion for BIDU. According to the company, the Dubai launch is Apollo Go's first international app deployment and pairs Baidu with Dubai Taxi Company to scale fully driverless rides.

How many autonomous vehicles does BIDU plan to deploy in Dubai and over what timeframe?

Baidu plans to deploy a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles in Dubai over the next few years. According to the company, this is a multi‑year rollout supported by a new Apollo Go Park and local operational partners.

What regulatory milestone enabled Apollo Go to start fully driverless rides in Dubai (BIDU)?

Dubai issued its first driverless testing permit in January 2026, enabling fully autonomous operations. According to the company, that regulatory approval allowed Baidu to operate commercial driverless ride‑hailing in Dubai in Q1 2026.

How extensive is Apollo Go's operational track record before the Dubai launch for BIDU investors?

Apollo Go has completed over 20 million rides and logged more than 300 million autonomous kilometers worldwide. According to the company, over 190 million of those kilometers were fully driverless, with an outstanding safety record.

How will the partnership with Dubai Taxi Company affect Apollo Go's rollout in Dubai (BIDU)?

The partnership provides local operations expertise and infrastructure to scale driverless taxis in Dubai. According to the company, DTC and RTA support will operationalize the service and align with Dubai's smart‑mobility targets through coordinated deployment.