UAE may get China Baidu’s self-driving taxis: report
Chinese tech giant Baidu is in talks with UAE officials to expand its robotaxi fleet beyond China
Baidu Eyes UAE for Expansion of Its Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Wall Street Journal stated that Chinese tech giant Baidu is aggressively investigating the deployment of its autonomous ride-hailing service. There are currently talks with representatives of the local government, suggesting that Baidu may expand its fleet of robotaxis outside of China.
Baidu CEO Robin Li and H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, had a high-profile public discussion at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, which preceded the initiative.
Li emphasized Baidu’s robotaxi technology, claiming that it is safer than automobiles operated by humans. When compared to traditional taxis, Baidu’s robotaxis are reportedly “10 times safer” than human drivers and have much lower auto insurance claims rates, according to Li.
In 11 Chinese cities as of November 2024, Baidu’s robotaxi service had delivered more than 8 million rides. Wuhan is a prominent location, with a fleet of more than 400 vehicles. Baidu’s strategic effort to enter the UAE is intended to capitalize on its cutting-edge autonomous driving technology in a new international market.
