Uber Technologies has announced that Baidu’s fully driverless Apollo Go vehicles are officially available to riders on the Uber platform in Dubai, with New Horizon Luxury Transport serving as the fleet operator.
This milestone reinforces Uber’s position as the platform of choice for autonomous vehicles (AVs) and marks a leap forward in expanding autonomous technology worldwide. As the inaugural step in a multi-year strategic partnership, Dubai serves as the launchpad for scaling thousands of Apollo Go vehicles across Uber’s global network.
Now, riders in Dubai requesting an UberX or Uber Comfort may be matched with a fully driverless Apollo Go vehicle. To increase the chances of being matched with a robotaxi, riders can also select the dedicated ‘Autonomous’ option directly in the Uber app.
Fully autonomous service
At initial launch, the fully autonomous service will be available in select locations in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah, with plans to expand the operating territory in the future.
“Launching in Dubai marks the first time our multi-partner vision comes to life on public roads, demonstrating how combining advanced autonomous technology with our global marketplace can accelerate an electric, shared, and autonomous future,” commented Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous, Uber.
“Dubai is also the first city where we’ve successfully established a dual-model offering both self-operated and partner-based autonomous ride-hailing services internationally. With this launch, we are excited to offer another way for riders in Dubai to enjoy the benefits of autonomous mobility,” remarked Nan Yang, Vice President, Baidu and General Manager, Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group.
