Baidu intensifies its robotaxi drive with an agreement with Uber and a rental service.
Baidu's sixth-generation autonomous vehicles, known as the RT 6, are currently operating on the roads of Wuhan. Credit: Baidu
The prominent Chinese search engine Baidu has made significant strides in its long-term initiative to create robotaxis. On Tuesday, it announced plans to deploy "thousands" of autonomous vehicles on Uber's ride-hailing platform across various markets outside of mainland China and the United States. Additionally, China's leading rental car service, CAR Inc., is integrating some of Baidu's robotaxis into its fleet, providing customers in a major Chinese city the option to rent a fully driverless car at a very low rate.
Regarding the partnership with Uber, Uber's CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, stated that "this partnership combines two of the world’s most iconic technology companies to help shape the future of mobility." Baidu’s CEO, Robin Li, remarked that the long-term agreement marks "a major milestone" in the global deployment of Baidu’s technology.
Jefferies analyst Thomas Chong commented on the alliance, noting in a report dated July 15 that he perceives the partnership with Uber as a positive indicator of Baidu's leadership in autonomous technology. He also highlighted that the company's strategy of exploring various models like partnerships allows it to scale rapidly.
The initial deployment is expected to occur in Asia and the Middle East later this year, according to the companies. Baidu currently operates over 1,000 fully driverless vehicles in 15 cities worldwide, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and has completed more than 11 million rides through its Apollo Go app as of May.
Prior to its collaboration with Baidu, Uber partnered with three self-driving car firms with Chinese connections: WeRide and Pony.ai, both listed in the U.S., and General Motors-backed Momenta. WeRide’s robotaxis are already in operation in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and Pony.ai also plans to expand into the Middle East.
In its domestic market, Baidu has advanced further with its fully autonomous car rental service, which was co-launched with CAR Inc. earlier this month in Wuhan. This service is witnessing strong demand, reportedly fueled by significant discounts offered.
A customer service representative from CAR Inc. informed TechNode on Thursday (translated) that "all the time slots and vehicles within the next seven days have already been booked out, and we will add more vehicles as needed based on customer demand."
Earlier this week, the companies announced that the rental price is set at RMB 88 ($12.3), down from the original price of RMB 588, for legal residents aged 18 and older to rent a spacious, fully autonomous crossover for travel around most of Wuhan.
Passengers aged up to 70 years, those without driving licenses, international tourists, and individuals with disabilities can utilize the service, with the option to rent a car for up to seven days. However, the Baidu RT6 SUVs used in the service are restricted to specific pickup and drop-off locations throughout the city.
The companies emphasized that the service is tightly geofenced, although the area in Wuhan where robotaxis can operate has been expanded to over 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles), as reported by the Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Commerce.
The RT6, which measures 4.8 meters in length and seats four, is Baidu’s sixth-generation robotaxi, produced by the Chinese automobile manufacturer JAC at an estimated cost of around RMB 250,000 ($34,825). The vehicles feature heated seats with massage functionalities and are equipped with a refrigerator, according to the companies.
READ MORE: Baidu shares surge on growth prospects of robotaxi business
Jill Shen is a technology reporter based in Shanghai, focusing on Chinese mobility, autonomous vehicles, and electric cars. You can connect with her via e-mail at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter at @jill_shen_sh. More by Jill Shen.
Baidu intensifies its robotaxi drive with an agreement with Uber and a rental service.
China's biggest car rental service, CAR Inc., is incorporating Baidu's robotaxis into its fleets, enabling customers to rent a completely driverless vehicle at a very affordable rate in a significant Chinese city.