Uber to Offer Baidu’s Driverless Rides Outside the US/China

On July 15, 2025, Uber announced a multi‑year partnership with China’s Baidu. The goal is to integrate Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles into the ride-hailing app, outside the US and China.

Initial deployments are scheduled for late 2025 in select Asia and Middle East markets such as the UAE.

Uber and Baidu must negotiate local approvals, as each country has its own rules governing autonomous vehicles. For example, Apollo Go in Dubai must comply with local safety laws, such as the roadworthiness of sensor systems, data collection processes, and the alignment of EV charging support with regulatory benchmarks.

While China and the UAE are drafting ride-hailing regulations, some regions (like parts of Europe and India) still lack defined frameworks. Baidu is speaking to European regulators, but approvals in Switzerland, Turkey, and elsewhere are still in early stages.

Baidu’s Apollo Go operates in 15 cities and has over 1,000 fully driverless vehicles. As of May 2025, it delivered 11 million rides, making it one of the largest robotaxi services worldwide.

Cover photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash