Baidu is engaged on launching its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Singapore and Malaysia by end-2025, with sources near the matter telling Singapore’s The Impartial that the Chinese language tech large is in talks with native taxi operators and mobility service suppliers to tailor a enterprise mannequin for each nations.
The corporate is adopting what it calls an “asset-light” technique – prioritising partnerships over direct fleet possession. Since its China launch in 2019, Apollo Go has clocked greater than 11 million rides (beating Google Waymo‘s 10 million) in over 1,000 autonomous autos. Tesla simply final month launched its Robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, utilizing 10 Mannequin Ys.
Baidu can be taking a look at Europe and the Center East for its driverless taxis; it’s reportedly speaking with Swiss Put up subsidiary PostAuto to launch Apollo Go in Switzerland, and exploring a Turkish entry.
Malaysia’s autonomous automobile trials have largely been confined to areas comparable to Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and Bukit Jalil Expertise Park, starting within the early-2020s, however developments have since been scarce. Final yr, transport minister Anthony Loke mentioned that the federal government is contemplating amending legal guidelines to help the digitalisation and growth of autonomous autos.
“We have to take steps to see the long run as a result of possibly now it’s not but mainstream. However possibly in 10, 20 years, most of our public transportation methods will now not use people as drivers. They are often autonomous. Now, most of them nonetheless want drivers,” he mentioned in September.
Nicely, if Apollo Go actually does launch this yr and takes off, we received’t have to attend 10, 20 years. Whereas the times of grumpy taxi drivers haggling fares, refusing to go to sure locations and never stopping regardless of you waving your arms about like a madman are few and much between in the present day, the livelihoods of our long-serving taxi and e-hailing drivers are one thing to consider.
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