Baidu’s Robotaxi Unit Eyes Europe Expansion

Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi unit plans to expand to Switzerland and Turkey this year, per an anonymous source, marking its European debut. The fully driverless service, operating in Beijing suburbs and other Chinese cities with subsidized fares, follows March’s Middle East expansion announcement for Dubai and Abu Dhabi, plus Hong Kong testing. Chinese regulators permit autonomous operations post-testing, unlike stricter global frameworks. Rival Pony.AI partnered with Uber for US and Middle East launches, intensifying competition. Baidu’s move aligns with China’s tech push amid a US-China tariff truce, cutting tariffs to 30% and 10%, easing export pressures. However, economic challenges, including a 0.1% April consumer price drop, and Trump’s trade volatility raise hurdles. Apollo Go’s expansion leverages Baidu’s AI expertise, but European regulatory and safety concerns could delay rollouts. Consumer caution, with 60% of Americans delaying purchases, reflects global sentiment that may impact adoption. Baidu’s global ambitions hinge on navigating trade, regulatory, and economic headwinds while competing in the fast-evolving autonomous vehicle market.