Baidu's Apollo Go approved to expand autonomous driving tests in Hong Kong

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On June 18, the Transport Department of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("HKSAR") announced that Apollo Go—the autonomous ride-hailing service backed by Baidu—has been approved to conduct road tests on designated routes and during specified hours in Tung Chung. This development marks another milestone in the expansion of autonomous driving applications in Hong Kong and follows the Transport Department's decision in late April to renew Apollo Go's autonomous vehicle testing permit and broaden its operational test area.

Photo credit: Apollo Go

Under the updated pilot scheme issued on April 30 in accordance with the Road Traffic (Autonomous Vehicles) Regulation, Apollo Go's testing area was extended to cover a broader section of North Lantau, with the number of permitted vehicles doubled from five to ten per test. The latest approval further expands Apollo Go's testing footprint into Tung Chung's urban zones, which feature more complex and dynamic traffic conditions.

As an international financial hub and major metropolis, Hong Kong presents a highly diverse and challenging traffic environment, making it an ideal proving ground for autonomous driving technology. Testing in such conditions will help Baidu verify the adaptability and reliability of its autonomous systems, laying the groundwork for future large-scale commercial deployment.

Since launching trials in December 2024, this marks the third expansion of Apollo Go's testing area in Hong Kong. What began with tests near the airport has since grown to cover key North Lantau routes and now extends into Tung Chung's urban areas. According to Hong Kong's Transport Department, Apollo Go has demonstrated stable performance across a range of road scenarios, logging more than 15,000 kilometers of safe driving.

Niu Haotian, General Manager of Baidu's International Intelligent Driving Business, stated: "Since receiving Hong Kong's first autonomous driving road test permit, Apollo Go has adhered to its 'safety-first' commitment with a flawless 15,000-kilometer safety record. Under the guidance of the HKSAR government, we will continue to advance testing and deployment in an orderly manner, offering safer, more efficient, and greener mobility options to both residents and visitors. At the same time, we look forward to deeper collaboration with local partners across industry, academia, and research to jointly foster innovation and support Hong Kong's ambition to become a global innovation hub."