Apollo Go

Apollo Go (Chinese: 萝卜快跑, "Luobo Kuaipao") is the robotaxi ride-hailing brand operated by Chinese internet and AI group Baidu through its Apollo autonomous-driving unit. Launched in 2021, the service lets passengers hail an autonomous vehicle through a mobile app, initially with a safety driver on board and increasingly as a fully driverless (no one in the driver's seat) commercial service. It is one of the most prominent consumer-facing autonomous mobility brands in China and a flagship showcase for Baidu's Apollo self-driving technology stack. Apollo Go operates in a growing list of Chinese cities, including Wuhan, Beijing, Shenzhen, Chongqing and Guangzhou, where it runs paid rides in designated areas such as airports, business districts and suburban zones. The brand positions itself as an affordable, safe and convenient alternative to conventional ride-hailing, with fares that are often lower than human-driven services and vehicles that operate around the clock. Its fleet is built on Baidu's Apollo platform and uses a combination of lidar, cameras and radar with high-definition maps and a cloud-based dispatch system. Commercially, Apollo Go is a subsidiary brand within Baidu rather than a separately listed company; Baidu reports its autonomous-driving progress in corporate results and has expanded the service through partnerships with local governments and vehicle manufacturers. The brand has become a symbol of China's push toward commercial robotaxi deployment, and its expansion has drawn international attention as one of the largest fully driverless ride-hailing operations in the world. Apollo Go's public profile grew sharply as it scaled in Wuhan, where large numbers of driverless cars became a visible part of daily transport and sparked public debate about the impact on traditional taxi and ride-hailing drivers. Baidu has continued to expand the service to new cities and to increase the share of fully driverless rides, positioning Apollo Go as the consumer-facing front end of its broader Apollo autonomous-driving ecosystem, which also includes automotive software, smart transportation and autonomous vehicle technology licensing.

Apollo Go is the consumer-facing robotaxi brand of Baidu's Apollo autonomous-driving program. Baidu launched Project Apollo in 2017 as an open autonomous-driving platform, partnering with automakers and suppliers. In 2020, Baidu began offering autonomous ride-hailing trials in Beijing and other cities, initially with safety drivers. In 2021, Baidu formally launched the Apollo Go robotaxi service as a commercial ride-hailing brand, allowing the public to hail autonomous vehicles through an app in designated areas. In 2022, Baidu obtained permits in Wuhan and Chongqing to operate fully driverless robotaxis without a safety driver in the vehicle, a milestone for commercial autonomous mobility in China. The service expanded to Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, with operations in designated zones such as Yizhuang in Beijing and parts of Wuhan. Baidu also unveiled autonomous vehicles built with partners, including the Apollo RT6, a purpose-built robotaxi with a detachable steering wheel designed for Apollo Go's fleet. By 2024, Apollo Go had become a visible presence in Wuhan, where a large fleet of driverless cars operated across much of the city and offered low fares, drawing widespread media coverage and public debate about the impact on taxi and ride-hailing employment. Baidu reported rapid growth in Apollo Go ride volumes and continued to expand to new cities and larger operating areas, while pursuing partnerships with local governments and vehicle manufacturers. The brand remains a subsidiary of Baidu and is reported within Baidu's corporate results rather than as a separately listed entity.

• 2024

  Apollo Go scales to a large fully driverless fleet in Wuhan, drawing national attention.

• 2022

  Baidu wins permits for fully driverless robotaxi operations in Wuhan and Chongqing.

• 2021

  Apollo Go robotaxi ride-hailing service is formally launched.

• 2017

  Baidu launches the Apollo open autonomous-driving platform.

Affordable, safe, round-the-clock autonomous ride-hailing for mass-market urban mobility in China.

• Apollo Go app-based robotaxi service

  On-demand autonomous ride-hailing in designated city zones.

• Fully driverless robotaxi rides

  Rides without a safety driver in the vehicle, offered in permitted areas.

• Apollo RT6 purpose-built robotaxi

  A custom autonomous vehicle designed for Apollo Go's fleet.

• 2026-11-03

  Baidu launches Apollo World simulation system[2]百度推出Apollo World模拟系统metrohk.com.hk

  Reported: 2026-11-03

  Baidu launched Apollo World, an AI system that simulates real-road environments to train autonomous taxis. The article reports that the system is already being used to train Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi fleet.

• 2026-08-20

  Uber launches Baidu Apollo Go driverless robotaxi service in Dubai[3]优步在迪拜推出百度Apollo Go无人驾驶出租车服务tradearabia.com

  Uber Technologies announced the launch of Baidu's fully driverless Apollo Go vehicles on its ride-hailing platform in Dubai, with New Horizon Luxury Transport serving as fleet operator. The service initially operates in select locations in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, using Apollo Go's sixth-generation RT6 electric robotaxi, and riders can request an UberX or Uber Comfort matched with a driverless Apollo Go vehicle or select the autonomous option in the Uber app.

• 2021-08-18

  Baidu launches Luobo Kuaipao autonomous ride service platform[4]百度发布无人车出行服务平台“萝卜快跑”itbear.com.cn

  At Baidu World 2021, Baidu launched Luobo Kuaipao, an autonomous-vehicle ride service platform for the public. Baidu said it expected the service to cover 30 cities within three years.

• Unconfirmed

  Baidu receives approval to offer paid autonomous taxi service in Cangzhou[5]百度获准在沧州提供收费自动驾驶的士服务unwire.hk

  Reported: 2021-03-17

  Baidu received local government authorization in Cangzhou to try operating a paid autonomous passenger-car service; its Apollo Go fleet was to provide the service with 35 vehicles.

• 2020-12-15

  Apollo GO becomes available through Shouqi Yueche[6]Apollo GO进驻首汽约车平台chinaz.com

  Baidu Apollo GO became available through the Shouqi Yueche platform, where users could order the autonomous driving service. The report also says users could call autonomous taxis through Baidu Maps and the Apollo GO app.

• Unconfirmed

  Baidu rolls out Apollo Go self-driving taxi service in Beijing[7]百度在北京推出自动驾驶出租车服务“萝卜快跑”en.people.cn

  Reported: 2020-09-11

  Baidu rolled out its Apollo Go self-driving taxi service in Beijing, initially putting 40 autonomous cabs into trial operation.

1. 1网易订阅 - 钛晨报163.com
2. 2百度推出Apollo World模拟系统metrohk.com.hk
3. 3优步在迪拜推出百度Apollo Go无人驾驶出租车服务tradearabia.com
4. 4百度发布无人车出行服务平台“萝卜快跑”itbear.com.cn
5. 5百度获准在沧州提供收费自动驾驶的士服务unwire.hk
6. 6Apollo GO进驻首汽约车平台chinaz.com
7. 7百度在北京推出自动驾驶出租车服务“萝卜快跑”en.people.cn
8. 8百度发布Apollo汽车机器人：不设方向盘，无需人类驾驶_汽车_中国江苏网auto.jschina.com.cn
9. 9Baidu launches Apollo World model to train robotaxis in simulated environments · TechNodetechnode.com
10. 10Baidu Launches Self-Driving Robotaxi Service, Ready for the 2022 Winter Olympicsautoevolution.com
11. 11Baidu Launches Self-Driving Taxi Services, Rolls Out Over 60 Autonomous Carsautoevolution.com
12. 12Baidu rolls out paid driverless taxi service in Beijingtoronto.citynews.ca
13. 13Uber Debuts Baidu's Driverless Apollo Go Vehicles In Dubaifinanznachrichten.de