Dubai’s Driverless Taxi Initiative with Baidu Goes Live

Dubai, UAE: The Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) has initiated a groundbreaking partnership with Baidu Inc. to launch commercial driverless taxi services, utilizing the Apollo Go application, which marks its first international venture.

This collaborative effort merges Baidu's top-tier autonomous technology with DTC’s rich operational experience. By leveraging its status as the largest taxi and limousine operator in the emirate, the initiative aims to fulfill Dubai's aspiration to transition 25% of transportation trips into smart, driverless journeys by 2030.

Starting with a fleet of 50 autonomous vehicles in the inaugural year, there are ambitious plans to expand to over 1,000 driverless taxis in subsequent years. Users can conveniently book rides through the Apollo Go app, downloadable from both the Play Store and App Store, with future extensions to include Bolt and other e-hailing services.

Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of the Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group, remarked:
"Our collaboration with DTC signifies a pivotal moment for autonomous mobility in Dubai. By marrying our sophisticated technology with local insights, we strive to provide a ride-hailing service that is safe, efficient, and scalable, raising the bar for the region."

Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi, Group CEO of DTC, stated:
"This launch is a key achievement in our smart mobility quest. With Baidu's autonomous capabilities and support from the Roads and Transport Authority, we are set to advance driverless taxis, improving safety, reliability, and the customer experience as a whole."

The Dubai Taxi Company operates a robust fleet of over 6,000 taxis and limousines, benefiting from 30 years of industry expertise. Its sophisticated monitoring systems ensure that every autonomous trip remains safe and efficient, reaffirming its status as a leader in futuristic mobility solutions.

Earlier this year, Apollo Go secured the first testing permit in Dubai for fully autonomous vehicles without a safety driver, and launched the Apollo Go Park, its first international operations hub. The platform has successfully completed 20 million rides globally, accumulating over 300 million autonomous kilometers and maintaining an excellent safety record.

This groundbreaking launch positions Dubai as a focal point for innovation in autonomous mobility, aligning with its 2030 Self Driving Transport Strategy and pioneering advanced transport solutions.