Baidu's Robotaxi Service Set to Launch in Switzerland and Turkey

Baidu, a prominent Chinese technology company, is making strides to introduce its autonomous taxi service, Apollo Go, to the European market, with Switzerland being the initial target. According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, the company plans to establish operations in both Switzerland and Turkey.

In Switzerland, Baidu is considering the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary and is reportedly in discussions with PostAuto, a subsidiary of the Swiss Post, for potential collaboration. The company aims to begin testing its service by the end of the year.

Baidu has been engaged in the development of autonomous driving technology for nearly a decade. Initially known for its search engine, the company launched the Apollo project in 2017 to create software for self-driving vehicles, making it available for free to developers. Since 2022, Baidu has been operating its robotaxis under regulatory approval.

As competition in the autonomous vehicle sector intensifies within China, Baidu is seeking to expand its reach beyond its domestic market. Initially, the United States was a focal point for expansion; however, increasing regulatory measures have prompted companies to explore other regions, including Japan, Singapore, the Middle East, and Europe. Notably, the company WeRide has already initiated a project in France in collaboration with Renault and is also active in Switzerland.

Analysts suggest that the relatively high labor costs for drivers in Europe could make robotaxi operations financially viable. However, they also caution that regulatory challenges within the European Union may impede progress. According to Kai Wang from Morningstar, convincing regulatory bodies of safety will require time-consuming testing.

While Baidu is positioning itself to enter the European market, it is not without competition. PostAuto has been testing autonomous bus services since 2016, and Volkswagen's subsidiary, Moia, plans to launch a service using autonomous ride-hailing vehicles in Hamburg later this year.