Baidu’s Apollo Go & AutoGo Launch Fully Autonomous Ride-Hailing in Abu Dhabi

Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service, Apollo Go and UAE-based AutoGo, owned by K2, have launched a fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in Abu Dhabi. The service is available via the AutoGo app. 

The launch follows the partners securing a fully driverless commercial permit in mid-November 2025.

The initial operations cover Yas Island, which has been designated as a permitted zone for fully driverless operations. The companies said the service will expand in phases across Abu Dhabi.

The next phase will include Al Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, and Saadiyat Island. The partners said they will add more areas over time. The long-term plan is to operate across the wider Abu Dhabi emirate and deploy hundreds of vehicles by 2026.

Baidu said the collaboration with AutoGo began in March 2025. The partners announced plans then to build Abu Dhabi’s largest fully driverless fleet. By mid-November 2025, they secured one of the first permits for fully driverless commercial operations in the emirate.

Users can now download the app and request a ride, and the vehicles will operate without a human driver.

“This speed of execution highlights the technical readiness of Apollo Go, the strong operational capabilities of our partnership, and the steadfast support of local regulatory bodies,” said Liang Zhang, managing director of EMEA at Baidu Apollo.

AutoGo said the launch marks a shift from testing to public deployment. The company said it plans to expand services across key districts in phases. The partners said they will continue scaling the service to reach more users. They also said the deployment aligns with Abu Dhabi’s broader smart city goals.

“AutoGo’s transition to live robotaxi operations marks an important milestone in Abu Dhabi’s autonomous mobility journey,” said Sean Teo, managing director of K2. “Launching the service at the start of the year reflects our focus on execution and long-term value creation.”

“By introducing robotaxi services in real urban environments and scaling across key districts, we are moving decisively from development to deployment—delivering autonomy that is practical, safe, and ready for everyday use,” he added.

The company said Apollo Go has logged more than 240 million autonomous kilometres globally. More than 140 million kilometres were completed in fully driverless mode.

Apollo Go operates in 22 cities worldwide, according to the company. Its weekly ride count has surpassed 2.5 lakh. The service has completed more than 17 million cumulative rides as of October 31, 2025.

It has also previously partnered with Uber and CAR Inc in China.