As the global race for robotaxi dominance accelerates, a new player cruises into Southeast Asia. The Chinese tech giant Baidu is preparing to bring its Apollo Go autonomous vehicle service to the region as early as late 2025. The company’s international expansion is gaining speed as it looks to capitalise on rising demand and favourable markets beyond China and the US.
Plans to enter Singapore and Malaysia by late 2025
According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, Baidu is actively planning to introduce its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Southeast Asia, with Singapore and Malaysia as top priority destinations. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that these countries fit neatly into Baidu’s broader global strategy as it looks to expand beyond domestic borders.
The move is part of what industry experts call a “dual-pronged approach” by Chinese firms to grow abroad while mitigating the impact of geopolitical tensions, particularly those involving the United States. With Southeast Asia offering fewer regulatory and political hurdles, it’s becoming a hotspot for emerging transport technologies.
Nikkei Asia has also highlighted this trend, pointing out that many Chinese firms, including Baidu, are now setting their sights on Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe due to continued uncertainty in US-China relations.
Baidu leads in robotaxi rides as costs stay low
If you’re tracking the numbers, Baidu’s Apollo Go is pulling ahead in the global robotaxi ride count. The company recently announced that it has surpassed 11 million completed rides, overtaking Waymo, which had previously reported 10 million. This milestone places Baidu at the top of the global autonomous ride market.
Apollo Go’s low operational cost makes it exceptionally competitive. While a robotaxi ride in the US averages around US$2 per mile, Chinese companies like Baidu offer rides at just 35 cents per mile, according to a 2025 report from ARK Invest. This price gap is mainly due to government subsidies, efficient local supply chains, and lower labour costs, allowing Baidu to scale its service in cost-sensitive markets.
Currently, Baidu operates more than 1,000 robotaxis globally, making it one of the largest autonomous fleets in the world. Although China remains the core market, Baidu has also announced plans to enter the Middle East. In March, the company said it would deploy “dozens” of vehicles in Abu Dhabi through a partnership with UAE-based Autogo, aiming for commercial operations by 2026.
Global market set for massive growth
If you’re wondering whether this industry is worth watching, analysts at Goldman Sachs think so. The investment bank projects that in 2030, millions of autonomous vehicles could be operating worldwide, mainly for ride-sharing. China, already home to the largest robotaxi fleet at around 1,700 vehicles, is expected to be a major player in this boom.
Goldman Sachs estimates the Chinese robotaxi market will rise sharply from just US$54 million in 2025 to a staggering US$47 billion by 2035. This growth is expected to be driven by advancements in hardware and algorithms and falling fleet maintenance and operating costs.
Among the key players to watch are Baidu’s Apollo Go, Pony AI, and WeRide. Analysts believe these companies will maintain a lead thanks to their technological edge in artificial intelligence, real-time data, and mapping systems.
Meanwhile, regional rivals aren’t staying idle. WeRide, for example, has already launched its GXR minivan robotaxi in multiple Chinese cities, such as Zurich and Abu Dhabi. It’s also teaming up with Uber to expand into 15 new cities over the next five years. In contrast, US firms like Waymo continue to focus on scaling their domestic operations. Waymo, which launched the first driverless robotaxi service in Phoenix in 2020, is still the largest operator in the US. However, scaling has proven costly, with General Motors recently pulling back investment from Cruise after spending US$10 billion.
Despite recent progress, widespread robotaxi deployment shouldn’t be expected overnight. According to a McKinsey report, the accurate commercial scale might not arrive until 2030 due to regulatory limitations and the need for further improvements in vehicle autonomy.
Still, Baidu remains optimistic. The company says its robotaxis have now clocked over 10 million rides in China without any serious accidents—a confidence boost as it eyes global roads.
