Baidu Apollo Go: Robotaxi Launch in Abu Dhabi

On January 20, 2026, Chinese tech giant Baidu officially brought its Apollo Go platform to the international market. Together with local operator AutoGo, the company launched a fully autonomous robotaxi service (Level 4) in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The first driverless cars began circulating on Yas Island.

This is a strategically important move: Baidu proves that Chinese autonomous driving algorithms are ready for operation outside "home" testing grounds. While Western regulators (as in California) tighten rules for Cruise and Waymo, the Emirates open doors for Chinese technologies, becoming a hub for next-generation smart mobility deployment.

Source: Gasgoo / Baidu