Feb.17, China – Baidu Apollo’s ride-hailing service platform Apollo Go has launched a trial operation in Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, providing autonomous robotaxi services to Shenzhen commuters.
Why it matters
Shenzhen is the seventh city where Baidu has introduced its robotaxi ride services in China, following Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Changsha, and Cangzhou. Shenzhen’s Nanshan District, home to top tech companies including Tencent and Huawei, is one of the most densely populated areas in south China.
The launch of Baidu’s robotaxi services is set to drive further developments in autonomous driving in Shenzhen and accelerate the development of local intelligent connected vehicles, underscoring Baidu’s continuous efforts and ambition to lead the transformation of intelligent transportation in China.
Details of Apollo Go in Shenzhen
Users will be able to hail a robotaxi via the Apollo Go app at one of approximately 50 stations, with daily operating hours from 9am to 5pm. Services will be centred around key downtown spots such as Shenzhen Talent Park, the surrounding residential areas, commercial areas, entertainment and cultural areas and other high-frequency transport destinations. The service area is set to expand to more than 300 stations by the end of 2022 in an effort to meet the great demand for commuting and general transport in Shenzhen.
As a hub of innovation for Shenzhen and the wider Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Nanshan District has a favourable policy environment and a sturdy network of roads, providing optimal conditions for the rapid implementation of robotaxi services and the rapid development of autonomous driving technology.
Baidu Apollo’s Development Strategy
As a pioneer in China’s autonomous driving field, Baidu Apollo offers industry-leading technology and advanced autonomous driving solutions. As of Q3 2021, Apollo L4 has accumulated over 10 million test miles. Baidu Apollo’s robotaxi ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go, has also been authorised to provide paid service in China’s first-ever demonstration zone for commercial autonomous driving in Beijing. In addition, the manufacturing cost of Baidu’s latest robotaxi model Apollo Moon has been brought down to CNY480,000 (USD75,745) per unit, with the models currently being added to Apollo Go’s robotaxi service.
Baidu has set an ambitious goal to expand Apollo Go operations into 65 cities across China by 2025 and 100 cities by 2030. Baidu aims to continue its efforts to collaborate with more cities and expand the footprint of Apollo Go, providing safer and better autonomous car services to more and more users.
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