Baidu Launches Robotaxi Testing in Switzerland This December

BEIJING — Chinese technology giant Baidu is making significant strides towards Europe's autonomous driving landscape. The company has announced that its Apollo Go robotaxi division will commence test drives in Switzerland this December, in collaboration with PostBus, the nation’s public transport authority.

This initiative signifies Baidu’s first practical testing in Europe, contributing to its global expansion plan for autonomous vehicles. The firms aim to launch a fully driverless taxi service branded as “AmiGo” by early 2027, utilizing Apollo Go’s cutting-edge RT6 electric vehicles.

Upon launch, the “AmiGo” fleet is expected to operate without steering wheels, representing a significant evolution in the design of autonomous vehicles and a robust endorsement of AI-enabled transportation.

This venture into Europe follows Baidu’s numerous international partnerships. In August, the company disclosed plans to collaborate with Lyft to roll out robotaxis in the U.K. and Germany by 2026. Previously, Baidu also announced a partnership with Uber to extend Apollo Go services to regions outside the U.S. and mainland China.

The competition within the robotaxi sector is intensifying. Chinese competitor Pony.ai has partnered with Stellantis to conduct similar trials in Luxembourg, while Alphabet-owned Waymo is gearing up to commence trials in London next year. Concurrently, Uber is gearing up for self-driving ride trials in the U.K. with the startup Wayve by spring 2026.