ALBAWABA – Baidu, the Chinese multinational technology company specializing in Internet services and artificial intelligence, announced the obtain of a self-driving test license in Hong Kong, China.
Baidu tests autonomous vehicles
Baidu, the Chinese tech giant, stated it obtained the first self-driving test license in Hong Kong, China. The company aims to test autonomous vehicles to be able to expand the driverless technology in the country.
According to Hong Kong’s Transport Department, the company will test 10 autonomous vehicles in North Lantau.
Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing arm, launched an affordable robotaxi model earlier in May as the company is constantly aiming to expand within machine learning and artificial intelligence fields. The Apollo Go service operates in multiple Chinese cities, with more than 400 vehicles.
The license will be valid for only one vehicle from December 9, 2024, to December 8, 2029. (Shutterstock)
Additionally, sources revealed that Baidu and Tesla signed an agreement in April 2024 to integrate maps into the automaker’s self-driving systems in China.
“Apollo Go looks forward to bringing the benefit of AI and autonomous driving technology to more countries and regions. This marks an important milestone in our journey towards globalization,” as stated by a spokesperson for Apollo Go.
According to a statement from the Transport Department, the license will be valid for only one vehicle from December 9, 2024, to December 8, 2029.
A backup operator will be available to take control of the vehicle if needed for any reasons during the testing period. Notably, Baidu’s license is the first ever issued by the Hong Kong government.
