Baidu, Inc.’s autonomous ride-hailing unit Apollo Go has partnered with UAE-based AutoGo, owned by K2, to launch a fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in Abu Dhabi. The service is available through the AutoGo app and marks a major shift from testing to public operations.
The launch follows the partners receiving a fully driverless commercial permit in mid-November 2025. Initial services have started on Yas Island, which has been designated for fully driverless vehicles. The companies plan a phased expansion across the emirate in the coming months.
“This speed of execution highlights the technical readiness of Apollo Go, the strong operational capabilities of our partnership, and the steadfast support of local regulatory bodies,” said Liang Zhang, managing director of EMEA at Baidu Apollo.
The partnership between Apollo Go and AutoGo began in March 2025. The joint goal is to build the largest fully driverless fleet in Abu Dhabi. After Yas Island, the service is set to expand to Al Reem Island, Al Maryah Island and Saadiyat Island, before scaling to other parts of Abu Dhabi.
AutoGo said the launch underlines its focus on strong execution and long-term value creation, while supporting Abu Dhabi’s smart city vision.
“AutoGo’s transition to live robotaxi operations marks an important milestone in Abu Dhabi’s autonomous mobility journey,” said Sean Teo, managing director of K2. “By introducing robotaxi services in real urban environments and scaling across key districts, we are moving decisively from development to deployment—delivering autonomy that is practical, safe, and ready for everyday use.”
The rollout positions Abu Dhabi as a key market for fully autonomous ride-hailing services and reflects growing confidence in large-scale, driverless mobility deployments within regulated urban environments.
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