• After obtaining the fully driverless commercial permit in mid-November 2025, the partners have introduced a fully autonomous ride-hailing service through the AutoGo app.
• The initial service area is Yas Island, with phased growth set for Reem, Al Maryah, and Saadiyat Islands.
• This launch is a key step toward the partners’ target of deploying hundreds of vehicles by 2026 and creating Abu Dhabi’s biggest fully driverless fleet.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Jan. 17, 2026 — Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: and HKEX: 9888) today revealed that its autonomous ride-hailing platform, Apollo Go, and AutoGo—a top UAE-based autonomous mobility firm—have formally rolled out a fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the emirate. The service, now accessible through the AutoGo app, represents a significant milestone for the commercialization of autonomous driving in the Middle East. It initially launched on Yas Island, where Abu Dhabi users can now download the app to book fully driverless trips.

Baidu’s Apollo Go and K2’s AutoGo started working together in March 2025, when they announced their partnership to develop Abu Dhabi’s largest fully driverless fleet. Building on that progress, the companies obtained one of the first permits for fully driverless commercial operations in Abu Dhabi in mid-November 2025 and signed a next-stage deal to grow the fleet to hundreds of vehicles by 2026. Now that the service is open to the public via the AutoGo app, the partners are steadily moving toward their goal of creating the emirate’s biggest fully driverless fleet.

“Going from an initial partnership deal to launching live, fully driverless public operations in just a few months is an impressive achievement,” stated Liang Zhang, Managing Director of EMEA at Baidu Apollo. “This fast execution shows Apollo Go’s technical preparedness, the strong operational abilities of our partnership, and the unwavering support of local regulators.”

“AutoGo’s shift to live robotaxi operations is a key milestone in Abu Dhabi’s autonomous mobility path,” said Sean Teo, Managing Director of K2. “Launching the service early in the year underscores our focus on execution and long-term value. By bringing robotaxi services to real urban areas and expanding across key districts, we are firmly moving from development to deployment—offering autonomy that is useful, safe, and ready for daily use.”

The initial service area includes Yas Island—a premier leisure and entertainment hub in Abu Dhabi—now approved as a zone for fully driverless operations. This service lets users simply download the AutoGo app, request a ride, and travel in a vehicle without a human driver behind the wheel.

Following the initial launch on Yas Island, the service will roll out geographically in phases across Abu Dhabi. Expansion will start with Reem Island, Al Maryah Island, and Saadiyat Island. Over time, the service will extend to more areas, with the long-term goal of operating throughout the larger Abu Dhabi emirate.

Apollo Go’s quick expansion into the UAE is supported by its industry-leading autonomous driving tech and proven real-world operational experience. As a top global autonomous ride-hailing service provider, Apollo Go has accumulated over 240 million autonomous kilometers—more than 140 million of which were driven in fully driverless mode. With a presence in 22 cities worldwide, Apollo Go’s weekly ride numbers have recently exceeded 250,000, and the service had completed over 17 million total rides as of October 31, 2025. Looking forward, Apollo Go and AutoGo will grow their fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing services to reach more users and further Abu Dhabi’s smart city vision.

About Baidu
Established in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to simplify the complex world using technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with a strong Internet background, listed on NASDAQ as “BIDU” and HKEX as “9888.” Each Baidu ADS equals eight Class A ordinary shares.

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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.