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The transportation industry is evolving rapidly with artificial intelligence at its core. Companies like Google’s Waymo and Baidu’s Apollo Go are leading the charge in autonomous ride-hailing, pushing the technology toward widespread adoption. Waymo dominates in the U.S., offering 150,000 rides weekly across four cities, while Apollo Go has taken the lead in China with fully driverless operations by February 2025.
Key Highlights
- Waymo’s Expansion: Operating commercially in four U.S. cities, Waymo plans to test in over 10 new locations, starting with Las Vegas and San Diego.
- Apollo Go’s Milestone: Achieved 1.1 million rides in Q4 2024, averaging 12,000 daily, making it a global leader in autonomous ride-hailing.
- Innovative Technology: Apollo Go’s RT6 vehicle features battery-swapping, recharging in under four minutes, boosting efficiency.
- Global Reach: Apollo Go secured Hong Kong’s first autonomous vehicle pilot licenses in 2024, targeting right-hand drive markets.
Next stop on our 2025 Road Trip: The Big Easy! 🎺 We're bringing the Waymo Driver to New Orleans and kicking things off at @LEDLouisiana Innovation Day. Come see how we're using road trips to advance our autonomous driving tech. #NOLA pic.twitter.com/Xkzlj5h7mo
— Waymo (@Waymo) February 6, 2025
Waymo has solidified its position as a trailblazer in the U.S., scaling its operations to deliver 150,000 rides per week. Its expansion into new cities like Las Vegas and San Diego reflects a strategic push to maintain leadership. Meanwhile, a partnership with Japan’s Nihon Kotsu and GO will bring Waymo’s autonomous fleet to Tokyo by 2025, marking its entry into Asian markets. This move highlights the growing demand for autonomous solutions worldwide.
In China, Apollo Go has redefined the industry with its fully driverless model. By February 2025, the service eliminated safety drivers, relying entirely on AI. Its 1.1 million rides in Q4 2024 underscore its commercial success. The RT6 vehicle, with its rapid battery-swapping technology, ensures minimal downtime, allowing Apollo Go to serve more passengers efficiently. This innovation is critical as daily ride volumes reach tens of thousands.
Globally, autonomous mobility is gaining traction. Apollo Go’s pilot licenses in Hong Kong open doors to right-hand drive markets, which account for a third of the global automotive sector. At the World Government Summit in Dubai, Baidu CEO Robin Li emphasized AI’s transformative potential, while UAE officials expressed interest in Apollo Go’s tech for future events. These developments signal strong governmental support for autonomous transportation.
Both companies face challenges adapting to diverse traffic conditions, but passenger comfort remains a priority. Apollo Go enhances its vehicles with voice control, massage seats, and remote climate adjustments, setting a high standard for user experience. As cities invest in smart infrastructure, Waymo and Apollo Go are proving that autonomous ride-hailing is not a future promise—it’s a present reality reshaping urban life.
About Apollo Go
Apollo Go, or Luobo Kuaipao, is Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing service, leading China’s push toward smart cities with AI and automation. As the nation’s first fully driverless Robotaxi provider, it sets a benchmark for scalable, AI-powered mobility solutions worldwide.
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