Gasgoo Munich- According to the latest update from Apollo, Hong Kong's Transport Department announced on Feb. 23 that a cross-district test route linking North Lantau Airport Island to Tung Chung town center and Sunny Bay is officially open. Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing platform and the first company to receive approval, will pioneer operations on this route. This marks Apollo Go's fifth expansion since securing Hong Kong's first autonomous vehicle pilot license in Nov. 2024. It represents a strategic leap for its local testing network from the airport hub into core communities.
Image Credit: Apollo
This route connection is a critical step for Hong Kong in implementing the smart transport strategies outlined in the Transport Strategy Blueprint and the Policy Address. The goal is to enable cross-district autonomous vehicle operations and move safely and orderly toward full autonomy.
Under the Transport Department's approval and guidance, Apollo Go's North Lantau testing project will undergo three major upgrades. The test route extends from the existing Airport Island to Tung Chung town center and Sunny Bay, spanning 43.2 km. The number of autonomous vehicles permitted to operate simultaneously will increase. Testing on Airport Island will shift to a collaborative model involving onboard backup operators and a control center. This approach is designed to gather more data for testing as the company moves toward an orderly transition to unmanned operations.
Since launching at the end of 2024, the North Lantau autonomous testing project has achieved four technical breakthroughs in 2025: multi-vehicle operation, passenger-carrying tests, route expansion, and increased speeds. To navigate Hong Kong's unique road conditions—such as right-hand drive traffic and mixed roundabouts—Apollo Go has optimized its algorithms and strengthened machine learning training. These efforts have boosted the system's adaptability and safety across various scenarios.
Yang Nan, Baidu Vice President and General Manager of the Intelligent Driving Business Group's Overseas Division, stated this expansion is a key step in the Transport Strategy Blueprint. It marks a crucial move toward accelerating autonomy. "In the future, we will deepen our roots in Hong Kong, using technology to connect transit arteries with neighborhoods, providing safer, smarter mobility for commuters and travelers."
