By Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU), the Chinese technology giant, has been granted a license to test its autonomous vehicles in Hong Kong through its Apollo robotaxi service. The license, issued by the Transport Department of Hong Kong on Friday, allows Baidu Apollo International Ltd to conduct trials with 10 autonomous vehicles in North Lantau.
The permit is set to be valid for a five-year period, starting from December 9, 2024, until December 8, 2029. Initially, the testing phase will permit only one self-driving car on specified road sections at any given time. As a safety precaution, a backup operator will be present on board to assume control of the vehicle if necessary.
This development comes as part of Hong Kong’s broader initiative to embrace autonomous driving technology. The government has been actively promoting the use of autonomous vehicles since at least 2017 and has recently expanded trials to include public roads, following new regulatory legislation enacted in March this year.
The issuance of this pilot license by the Hong Kong government is a first under the new regulatory framework and represents Baidu’s inaugural permit for autonomous vehicle testing outside of mainland China.
Baidu’s robotaxi service, Apollo Go, currently operates in several Chinese cities and boasts the largest fleet in Wuhan, central China, with over 400 vehicles.
Amid intensifying competition in the autonomous vehicle industry, Baidu aims to extend its robotaxi operations beyond mainland China to regions such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East, as reported by the Wall Street Journal last month.
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