Riders in parts of Dubai can now book fully driverless vehicles from Baidu’s Apollo Go through the Uber app, as the two companies begin a multi-year partnership focused on autonomous ride-hailing.
The service is operated by New Horizon Luxury Transport and is initially available in selected areas of Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah.
Driverless rides on Uber
Riders booking UberX or Uber Comfort may be matched with an Apollo Go vehicle. They can also choose the “Autonomous” option in the Uber app to increase their chances of getting a driverless vehicle.
Uber said the operating area is expected to expand in the future.
“Bringing our partnership with Baidu to life is a major step forward as we expand autonomous mobility globally,” said Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous at Uber.
“Launching in Dubai marks the first time our multi-partner vision comes to life on public roads, demonstrating how combining advanced autonomous technology with our global marketplace can accelerate an electric, shared, and autonomous future.”
Apollo Go RT6
The service will use Baidu’s sixth-generation RT6 robotaxi, a fully electric vehicle built for driverless operations. The vehicle can carry up to three passengers and has more than 30 sensors to monitor its surroundings and process data in real time.
“With this launch, we are excited to offer another way for riders in Dubai to enjoy the benefits of autonomous mobility,” said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group.
Global expansion
Baidu said Apollo Go operates across 28 cities globally. Its fleets have covered more than 350 million autonomous kilometres, including more than 240 million fully driverless kilometres.
Uber said safety requirements apply to all autonomous vehicles operating on its platform, including Apollo Go vehicles.
The Dubai launch is the first stage of the companies’ partnership, with plans to scale Apollo Go vehicles across Uber’s global network. Uber said it currently works with more than 30 autonomous vehicle partners and has completed millions of autonomous trips each year.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
