Baidu Apollo
Apollo RT6 · China · Founded2017
Baidu Apollo is the autonomous driving division of Baidu, China's largest search engine company. Baidu was founded in 2000 by Robin Li and Eric Xu in Beijing. The Apollo platform was launched in 2017 as an open-source autonomous driving ecosystem, and it has since grown into China's most advanced and widely deployed self-driving technology. Apollo Go, the commercial robotaxi service, is the largest in China and one of the largest globally by trip volume.
Key Metrics
About Baidu Apollo
The Apollo RT6, Baidu's sixth-generation autonomous vehicle, was unveiled in 2022 and represents a significant cost reduction. Priced at roughly $37,000 per unit, the RT6 costs about half as much as earlier generations, making large-scale fleet deployment economically viable. The vehicle can be configured with or without a steering wheel and is equipped with a full suite of lidar, cameras, and radar sensors. Baidu has deployed thousands of RT6 vehicles across its service areas.
Apollo Go operates commercial robotaxi services in more than 10 Chinese cities, including Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. Wuhan stands out as the largest fully driverless robotaxi deployment in the world, with hundreds of vehicles operating without safety drivers across a wide service area. The service has completed over 6 million cumulative rides and continues to add tens of thousands of new rides each week.
Baidu has secured regulatory approvals for fully driverless operations in multiple Chinese cities, positioning it as a leader in the global race toward scalable autonomous transportation. The company benefits from strong government support for autonomous vehicle development in China. Beyond robotaxis, the Apollo platform also powers autonomous buses, autonomous parking systems, and intelligent transportation infrastructure projects across the country.
Founders: Robin Li, Eric Xu
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Latest Update
Apollo Go robotaxi service operating in Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and other major Chinese cities. Over 6 million cumulative rides.
Key Milestone
Operating the largest commercial robotaxi fleet in China across 10+ cities
Vehicles and Products
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Baidu Apollo Go operate?
Apollo Go operates in more than 10 Chinese cities, including Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. Wuhan is the largest deployment, with fully driverless robotaxis covering a broad service area. The service is available through the Apollo Go app.
What is the Apollo RT6?
The Apollo RT6 is Baidu's sixth-generation autonomous vehicle platform, introduced in 2022. It costs approximately $37,000 per unit, making it one of the most affordable robotaxi platforms in the industry. The RT6 can be configured with or without a steering wheel and uses a comprehensive sensor suite including lidar, cameras, and radar.
Is Baidu Apollo the same as Baidu the search engine?
Apollo is the autonomous driving division within Baidu, Inc., which is primarily known as China's largest internet search provider. Baidu launched the Apollo project in 2017 as part of its broader AI strategy. While Apollo operates as a distinct business unit, it benefits from Baidu's extensive AI and cloud computing infrastructure.
How many rides has Apollo Go completed?
Apollo Go has completed over 6 million cumulative robotaxi rides across all operating cities. The service handles tens of thousands of rides per week, with Wuhan being the single largest market. Baidu reports these figures in its quarterly earnings calls.
Sources
- Baidu Apollo Official Website - accessed 2026-03-28
- Baidu Investor Relations - accessed 2026-03-28
- Baidu Apollo Go Service Information - accessed 2026-03-28