Baidu Secures Hong Kong’s First Robotaxi Test License, Marking Expansion Beyond Mainland China

China's Baidu has obtained Hong Kong's first autonomous vehicle testing license, allowing its Apollo robotaxi to operate on designated roads, signaling its ambitions to expand robotaxi services globally.

Baidu Expands Apollo Robotaxi Testing to Hong Kong

Baidu is expanding its reach beyond China's mainland, has secured a permit to conduct autonomous vehicle testing in Hong Kong via its Apollo robotaxi service, Reuters reports.

The Transport Department of Hong Kong said on Friday that Baidu Apollo International Ltd has been given the green light to test out ten autonomous vehicles in North Lantau.

In the first stage, the statement states that only one self-driving car may operate on certain road sections at a time, and that the license will be valid from December 9, 2024, to December 8, 2029.

It further stated that in the event that the primary operator is unable to continue operating the vehicle, a backup operator will be present during the experiment.

Hong Kong Pushes Autonomous Vehicle Trials

Although the government of Hong Kong has been pushing for autonomous vehicles since at least 2017, it wasn't until March of this year that they authorized more extensive experiments, including on public roads, according to new regulatory regulations.

The Hong Kong government has issued its first pilot license following the implementation of the new regulatory framework.

Baidu Secures First International Testing Permit

Additionally, this was the first authorization for Baidu to test autonomous vehicles outside of mainland China that is known to exist, Yahoo Finance points out

Among the many Chinese locations where the company's robotaxi service Apollo Go is available, Wuhan in central China boasts the biggest fleet of almost 400 cars.

Plans for Global Expansion as Competition Heats Up

In response to the intensifying rivalry to commercialize autonomous vehicles, Baidu is reportedly planning to expand the reach of its robotaxi service beyond mainland China, targeting markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East, as reported last month by the Wall Street Journal.