Uber & Baidu Team Up to Launch Robotaxis Across Asia and Middle East

In a strategic alliance poised to redefine global ride-hailing, Uber and Baidu have announced plans to deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles on Uber’s platform in markets outside the U.S. and China, targeting regions in Asia and the Middle East later this year.

The collaboration will initially roll out thousands of robotaxis, leveraging Baidu’s Apollo Go fleet, which already features over 1,000 fully driverless vehicles in 15 cities and has collectively completed more than 11 million rides.

This partnership aligns with Uber’s broader strategy of embracing autonomy by forming alliances rather than building in-house technology, following prior deals with players such as Waymo, Pony.ai, and WeRide.

“This partnership brings together two of the world’s most iconic technology companies to help shape the future of mobility,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said, emphasising Uber’s unique position across its multi-sector platform.

The deal allows Uber to expand its autonomous ride options globally without the upfront costs of developing its own self-driving capabilities. For Baidu, it’s an opportunity to take its flourishing Apollo Go service international. The move comes amid growing competition in autonomous mobility and follows similar initiatives from Waymo and Lyft.

Earlier this year, Uber and Chinese startup Momenta announced a strategic agreement to introduce autonomous vehicles to the Uber platform, in international markets outside of the US and China.

First deployment for the partnership will take place in Europe at the beginning of 2026, with onboard safety operators.