Baidu's Apollo Go Partners with PostBus to Deploy Autonomous Vehicles in Switzerland

Rhea-AI Summary

Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) announced that its autonomous ride-hailing arm Apollo Go is partnering with Swiss Post subsidiary PostBus to launch an on-demand autonomous service called AmiGo in eastern Switzerland.

Key facts: initial fleet testing begins in December 2025 across three cantons, driverless trials are planned later in 2026, and phased regular operations are expected by Q1 2027 at the latest, subject to safety and quality requirements. Apollo Go will deploy fully electric Level 4 RT6 vehicles (seating up to four, detachable steering wheel) with ride-pooling capability. The partnership has backing from multiple cantons and federal transport offices to support implementation.

Apollo Go cited a global fleet of over 1,000 vehicles, > 200 million autonomous km and > 14 million rides (as of Aug 2025) as operational credentials for the rollout.

Positive

• Initial testing set for December 2025
• Target full operations by Q1 2027 (subject to approvals)
• Local regulatory and cantonal backing enabling deployment
• Level 4 RT6 EVs with four seats and ride-pooling capability
• Apollo Go global footprint: 1,000+ vehicles and 200M+ km

Negative

• Regular operations contingent on meeting safety and quality requirements
• Early phases require safety drivers, delaying fully driverless revenue

Insights

Mobility Strategy Analyst

Partnership launches pilot autonomous ride service in Eastern Switzerland with regulatory support and a clear multi-stage timeline.

By pairing Baidu Apollo Go with PostBus, the collaboration combines autonomous Level 4 technology and an established public transport operator to trial the AmiGo service across three cantons. Initial mapping starts in December 2025, user pilots expand in first half of 2026, driverless trials begin later in 2026, and regular operations aim for first quarter of 2027 at the latest.

Key dependencies include regulatory approvals and safety checks, which the partnership reports have backing from cantonal and federal agencies, and operational readiness of the RT6 vehicles with detachable steering wheels. Watch fleet scaling, safety-driver removal milestones, and the adoption of ride-pooling as near-term indicators over the next 12–24 months.

• With this partnership, Baidu's Apollo Go and PostBus aim to bring a new on-demand smart mobility service AmiGo to eastern Switzerland to complement the existing public transport system.
• Initial fleet testing will begin in three cantons in Eastern Switzerland in December 2025 with phased expansion to regular operations by the first quarter of 2027 at the latest. Once officially launched, the fully driverless service will offer seating for up to four passengers and allow ride-pooling, improving vehicle utilization.
• This partnership has received strong backing from the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Thurgau, the Federal Office of Transport, the Federal Roads Office, the Touring Club of Switzerland, among others, enabling the smooth implementation and further development of the service.

BEIJING, Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888) today announced that Apollo Go, its autonomous ride-hailing service, has entered into a strategic partnership with PostBus, the leading public transport operator subsidiary of Swiss Post, to launch an on-demand autonomous mobility service AmiGo in Switzerland.

The service, designed to complement Switzerland's public transport system, will deploy Apollo Go's autonomous vehicles in Eastern Switzerland, covering an area that stretches across the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden. Initial trial fleet will begin testing in December 2025 with phased expansion to roll out regular operations in the first quarter of 2027 at the latest, when customers will be able to book autonomous vehicles through a mobile app and travel seamlessly to their destinations, either privately or via carpooling to optimize fleet utilization.

"We are honored to partner with an operator as reputable as PostBus to introduce autonomous ride-hailing service in Switzerland," said Liang Zhang, Managing Director of EMEA, Baidu Apollo. "As the world's leading and China's largest operator of Level 4 autonomous vehicles, we are bringing our globally proven technology and operational expertise — gained from a fully driverless fleet operating in over a dozen cities — to Europe. We will work closely with PostBus to enhance smart mobility in Switzerland, supplementing the existing public transport network and contributing to the nation's reputation for innovation."

"Through AmiGo, we are bringing the mobility of the future to Eastern Switzerland — flexibly, digitally and completely in line with our customers' needs," said Stefan Regli, CEO of PostBus at Swiss Post.

Apollo Go brings its latest-generation Level 4 autonomous vehicles RT6 and extensive large-scale operational expertise to the initiative. Customized for the AmiGo platform, the fully electric RT6 vehicles will accommodate up to four passengers and come with a detachable steering wheel. The steering wheel is designed to be removed once the service transitions to regular and fully autonomous operation. PostBus, Apollo Go's local partner, is a strong road-based public transportation company in Switzerland. As the operator of this service, PostBus is building on its pioneering role to deploy autonomous driving technology in the country.

The initial test runs, starting in December 2025, will use a pilot fleet for mapping trips without passengers and with safety drivers on board. In the first half of 2026, pilot operations will expand to a select group of users, still accompanied by safety drivers. Driverless trials are expected to commence later in 2026, paving the way for regular operations in the first quarter of 2027 at the latest provided that all safety and quality requirements are met.

Supporting Switzerland's national initiative to integrate autonomous vehicles into its transportation network, Apollo Go's entry into the Swiss market and this partnership have received strong support and backing from the cantons of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Thurgau, the Federal Office of Transport, the Federal Roads Office, the Touring Club of Switzerland, among others. These broad-based partnerships enable the smooth implementation and further development of the service.

The current scope of the partnership marks the beginning of a long-term commitment and collaborative relationship. Building on PostBus's extensive public transport network and Apollo Go's autonomous driving expertise, both partners will work together to gradually expand the fleet and bring intelligent, sustainable mobility services to more cities and communities across Switzerland.

This collaboration also marks an important step in Apollo Go's global expansion. As one of the world's leading autonomous ride-hailing services, Apollo Go operates a fully driverless fleet of over 1000 vehicles globally, and has accumulated over 200 million autonomous kilometers while maintaining a robust safety record. Its current footprint spans 16 cities globally, already covering Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Hong Kong. As of August 2025, Apollo Go has provided over 14 million rides to the public.

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

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidus-apollo-go-partners-with-postbus-to-deploy-autonomous-vehicles-in-switzerland-302591231.html

SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

FAQ

When will Baidu Apollo Go start testing AmiGo in Switzerland (BIDU)?

Initial fleet testing begins in December 2025 in three cantons in eastern Switzerland.

What is the target timeline for AmiGo regular operations (BIDU)?

Phased expansion aims for regular operations by Q1 2027 at the latest, subject to safety approvals.

What vehicle will Apollo Go use for the Swiss AmiGo service (BIDU)?

Apollo Go will deploy fully electric Level 4 RT6 vehicles that seat up to four passengers and support ride-pooling.

Which Swiss authorities back the Apollo Go and PostBus AmiGo partnership (BIDU)?

The partnership has support from the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Thurgau and federal transport offices.

Will AmiGo start driverless rides immediately in Switzerland (BIDU)?

No; initial runs use safety drivers and selected user pilots in 2026, with driverless trials expected later in 2026.

What operational track record does Apollo Go cite to support the Swiss rollout (BIDU)?

Apollo Go reports a global fleet of over 1,000 vehicles, more than 200 million autonomous kilometers, and over 14 million rides as of August 2025.