- Baidu CEO said he sees a clear path to profitability for Apollo Go.
- In the first quarter, Apollo Go provided more than 1.4 million rides, up 75 percent year-on-year.
Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service Apollo Go has reached a fleet of 1,000 robotaxi vehicles worldwide, marking a milestone for the business.
The tech giant's CEO Robin Li revealed the figure during an earnings call yesterday, saying that Baidu will continue to solidify its position as the world's leading autonomous ride-hailing service provider.
"Looking ahead, we will deepen our presence in existing markets while strategically entering new ones, capturing broader growth opportunities worldwide," Li said.
In the first quarter, Apollo Go provided more than 1.4 million rides, up 75 percent year-on-year, according to Baidu's unaudited earnings report released yesterday.
As of May, Apollo Go had accumulated more than 11 million orders and expanded its service to 15 cities.
Baidu forayed into autonomous driving technology in 2013, and is one of the first Chinese companies to enter the field.
In addition to testing and operating robotaxis in its home market, Apollo Go is ramping up its expansion into overseas markets.
In March, Apollo Go expanded its services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and began road verification tests in Dubai in May.
Last November, Apollo Go obtained permits in Hong Kong to pilot robotaxis in designated areas.
Last month, Apollo Go received approval to conduct open-road testing with designated passengers in Hong Kong, its first right-hand drive market.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that Baidu plans to roll out its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Switzerland and plans to launch a local company there in the coming months.
Apollo Go has successfully validated its business model in key operating regions with complex traffic conditions and cost-sensitive local passengers, and has achieved 100 percent fully autonomous driving operations in the Chinese mainland, it said.
"This gives us strong confidence to expand into international markets with higher pricing for ride-hailing service, where we aim to replicate and further optimize our proven approach," Li said yesterday.
Li said he sees a clear path to profitability for Apollo Go as costs in hardware and other areas decrease and the growing operational scale results in more efficiency.
"We expect Apollo Go to be a key driver of Baidu's long-term growth," Li added.
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