China’s tech giant Baidu has obtained its first license to test autonomous vehicles outside the mainland.
The company’s Apollo Go robotaxi service was approved by Hong Kong’s Transport Department to conduct trials with 10 autonomous vehicles in North Lantau.
The license, valid from December 9, 2024, to December 8, 2029, allows one self-driving car to operate on designated road sections at a time during the initial phase. A backup operator will remain onboard to ensure safety during these trials.
Hong Kong has been promoting autonomous vehicle technology since 2017 but only recently permitted broader trials on public roads following updated legislation in March 2024. This license marks the first issued under the new regulatory framework.
Apollo Go, already the largest robotaxi operator in mainland China with over 400 vehicles in Wuhan alone, sees this move as a step toward global expansion.
“This milestone brings us closer to sharing AI-driven mobility solutions worldwide,” said a company spokesperson.
Baidu has ambitious plans to extend its robotaxi services beyond mainland China, targeting regions like Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East, as competition in the autonomous vehicle industry intensifies.