Uber’s latest robotaxi partner is China’s Baidu

San Francisco, CA – In a significant move set to reshape the global autonomous vehicle landscape, ride-hailing giant Uber has forged a multi-year strategic partnership with Chinese technology behemoth Baidu. This collaboration aims to integrate thousands of Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles (AVs) onto the Uber platform, marking a pivotal step in expanding robotaxi services beyond the U.S. and mainland China.

The groundbreaking agreement, announced on Tuesday, July 14, 2025, will see the deployment of these self-driving vehicles commence in select markets across Asia and the Middle East later this year. This partnership underscores Uber’s aggressive strategy to safeguard its core ride-hailing business by embracing the burgeoning rise of autonomous transportation, a sector increasingly becoming central to future mobility.

Uber has been on an impressive streak of securing AV partnerships recently, demonstrating its commitment to integrating cutting-edge self-driving technology into its ecosystem. Over the past few months alone, the company has announced collaborations with an array of prominent autonomous vehicle developers. These include striking deals to put AVs from industry leaders like Waymo, Volkswagen, May Mobility, and Pony AI onto its platform in various cities worldwide.

Beyond simple integrations, Uber is also making strategic financial investments in the self-driving sector. In May 2025, Uber expanded its partnership with another Chinese AV firm, WeRide, which notably included a substantial $100 million investment. Reports also suggest that Uber might assist its founder, Travis Kalanick, in financing a potential takeover of Pony AI, further solidifying its ties within the autonomous driving community.

While these partnerships are accelerating rapidly, the widespread adoption of robotaxis through the Uber app remains in its nascent stages. Initially, riders utilizing the Uber platform in these new markets will not directly request a Baidu Apollo Go AV. Instead, they “may be presented with the option” for their trip to be fulfilled by a fully driverless Apollo Go vehicle. This mirrors the gradual integration approach seen in some of Uber’s existing autonomous vehicle partnerships, allowing for a phased rollout and adaptation by users.

This collaboration with Baidu is a testament to Uber’s proactive approach in navigating the future of transportation, leveraging advanced AI tools and autonomous technology to maintain its competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.