Apollo Go's robotaxi has received Level 4 approval in Switzerland.

      Baidu's robotaxis are set to make their way to the Alps. The AmiGo initiative, a collaboration between Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi division and Swiss Post's PostBus, has received a special permit from Switzerland's Federal Roads Office for Level 4 autonomous driving, according to Baidu. Level 4 indicates that the vehicle can operate independently within a specified area. Testing on open roads commenced on June 1 across approximately 80 square kilometers in eastern Switzerland, specifically in the cantons of St Gallen and the two Appenzells. For the time being, a safety operator is present in each vehicle.

      What AmiGo represents

      AmiGo combines Chinese self-driving technology with a Swiss public transportation provider. PostBus operates the country's recognizable yellow postal buses, while Apollo Go provides the autonomous driving technology. Passengers can schedule rides using the AmiGo app. The vehicles are Apollo Go’s RT6: fully electric pods designed to accommodate up to three passengers and equipped with over 30 sensors. The steering wheel is designed to be removable once the service operates without a driver. "With AmiGo, we are making automated mobility in public transport a reality," stated PostBus CEO Stefan Regli.

      The significance of the Apollo Go robotaxi permit

      Europe currently has very few robotaxis, and the limited efforts are in early stages. Riders still cannot easily hail a robotaxi across the majority of the continent. Uber has just begun a program in Munich, and most trials remain just that—trials. A Chinese operator obtaining a Level 4 permit in Europe is a significant milestone. Additionally, it expands Apollo Go’s presence beyond China, where it faced challenges in Wuhan when its fleet became immobilized in traffic.

      The numbers driving the expansion

      Apollo Go is rapidly scaling up. Baidu reports that the service provided 3.2 million fully driverless rides in the first quarter of 2026, reaching a peak of over 350,000 rides in one week in March. By April, cumulative rides surpassed 22 million across 27 cities. This scale is part of the strategy aimed at European regulators and partners. However, the Swiss permit is limited and the trial area is small. The partners are explicit about the next steps: starting with a closed user trial, then progressing to rides without a safety operator, and finally launching regular service by 2027, aiming to create the largest planned automated public transport operation of its kind in Europe. Chinese competitors are also making strides, while Europe’s diverse national regulations pose ongoing challenges in each market. The critical question is whether this cautious Swiss pilot will serve as a model or remain just a unique case.

      Published June 12, 2026 - 2:46 pm UTC