The future of human-driven transportation is imminent in Europe, with Chinese giant Baidu set to bring its robotaxis to the orderly streets of Switzerland. After conquering Chinese metropolises and starting to expand in the United Arab Emirates, Apollo Go (Baidu's autonomous driving division) is in talks with Swiss public transport company PostAuto to introduce its driverless vehicles by the end of the year.
The global expansion strategy
It is no coincidence that Baidu has chosen Switzerland as its gateway to the European market. The Alpine country is renowned for its punctual and efficient public transport, as well as its cutting-edge road infrastructure. According to information reported by the Wall Street Journal, Baidu plans to set up a local entity in the coming months and launch the first tests on Swiss territory by the end of 2025.
The move is part of a broader global expansion strategy. In recent months, Baidu announced plans to launch Apollo Go in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and has begun testing in Hong Kong. An expansion that will not stop in Switzerland: according to sources close to the company, Turkey is also in the sights of Chinese robotaxis.
Consolidated experience in the homeland
Baidu is no newcomer to the industry. In China, Apollo Go already operates in more than 10 cities, including Beijing, Wuhan, and Guangzhou. In particular, in the metropolis of Wuhan, Baidu operates the country’s largest robotaxi fleet with more than 400 vehicles. An impressive figure: in the cities of Beijing and Wuhan, more than 70% of taxi trips in April were completely driverless.
The numbers speak for themselves: as of October 28, 2024, Apollo Go has provided over 8 million rides to the public. In the third quarter of last year alone, the service operated 988.000 trips, up 20 percent from the previous year.
Unexpected social impacts
It is interesting to note how, in cities where robotaxis are already a consolidated reality, entirely new social behaviors are emerging. In San Francisco, for example, autonomous vehicles have rapidly transformed not only how people move, but also how they interact with these private spaces in motion. The absence of a human driver is creating unexpected dynamics, from the simple comfort of not having to engage in conversation to more “creative” uses of space, devoid of the “human judgment” of a driver.
The challenges of the European market
Despite its experience at home, Baidu will face challenges in operating successfully in Europe. On the one hand, the regulatory differences between European countries are a significant obstacle. On the other, European roads, which are narrower and less regular than the wide, grid-like arteries of the United States, could put a strain on autonomous driving systems.
It should also be noted that PostAuto, the potential Swiss partner, clarified that there is currently no formal agreement with Baidu, while confirming its interest in exploring new mobility solutions to meet the future needs of customers.
Competition intensifies
Baidu's arrival in Europe comes amid growing competition in the robotaxi sector. In the United States, companies like Waymo (by Alphabet) already have a consolidated presence, with a fleet of 1.500 autonomous vehicles that make about 250.000 trips per week. And the expansion does not stop: Waymo has already announced which will also begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Tokyo in early 2025, demonstrating how the race for autonomous mobility is now a global phenomenon.
Other Chinese companies such as WeRide and Pony.AI are also looking at overseas markets, with the latter recently announcing a partnership with Uber to bring its autonomous vehicles to the US and the Middle East.
2025 will be a decisive year for the future of autonomous mobility in Europe, with Chinese robotaxis ready to challenge the regulations and habits of the Old Continent. A silent revolution that, starting from the orderly streets of Switzerland, could change forever the way we move around our cities.
