According to market sources, Baidu's autonomous taxi subsidiary, Apollo GO, plans to enter the Southeast Asian market by the end of 2025. The company will primarily focus on the Singapore and Malaysia markets in the region. Foreign media reports indicate that Apollo GO is currently in talks with potential local partners to discuss the most suitable operating model for these two countries.
Currently, Apollo GO has launched autonomous driving services in multiple cities within China. According to Baidu's financial report, the company has charge fees for the autonomous ride-hailing services on open roads in cities such as Beijing, Chongqing, and Wuhan, and has obtained permits to provide autonomous services in Shenzhen Pingshan and Shanghai Pudong.
Golabally, Apollo GO has been expanding its presence in Hong Kong, China, the Middle East, and Europe. In November 2024, it received approval to conduct public road tests in Hong Kong, marking its first step outside of mainland China. In March of this year, the company made progress in the UAE, signing a cooperation agreement with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority to deploy 1,000 fully autonomous vehicles in Dubai. It also reached a strategic joint venture agreement with UAE's autonomous mobility company Autogo to create the largest autonomous vehicle fleet in the Abu Dhabi region. At the same time, Apollo GO announced its launch in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In the first quarter of 2025, the company provided over 1.4 million rides globally, a 75% year-on-year increase. As of May 2025, Apollo GO has completed over 11 million trips globally.
Recently, Apollo GO has been actively exploring partnership opportunities in Switzerland and Turkey as part of its European expansion. Baidu plans to establish a physical presence in Switzerland within the next few months to offer autonomous mobility services.
In addition to Apollo GO, domestic autonomous driving companies such as WeRide, Pony.ai, and Momenta have accelerated their deployments in markets outside of China and the US, making the competition in the international intelligent driving market increasingly intense. Apollo GO's shift toward Southeast Asia is both a tactical retreat from domestic competition and an attempt to break through in terms of technology commercialization. However, the complex traffic ecosystem, strict data compliance requirements, and cultural differences in Southeast Asia present significant challenges for the company. Moreover, the need to create a differentiated local solution within the mature mobility networks built by local giants such as Grab and Gojek, while pushing for commercialization, is another hurdle that Apollo GO must overcome.