China's Car Inc: Partners with Baidu Apollo to launch autonomous driving rental service - statement

China's Car Inc: Partners with Baidu Apollo to launch autonomous driving rental service - statement

China's Car Inc has announced a strategic partnership with Baidu Apollo to launch an autonomous driving rental service. This collaboration marks a significant step in the company's expansion into the autonomous vehicle market, capitalizing on Baidu's technological expertise and China's growing acceptance of Robotaxi services.

The partnership will leverage Baidu's Apollo Go platform, which has already achieved significant milestones in China. Apollo Go has surpassed 11 million trips as of May 2025, demonstrating the platform's operational success and consumer acceptance [NUMBER: 1]. China's Car Inc aims to replicate this success in the rental service market, positioning itself as a key player in the global autonomous driving landscape.

Baidu's backing provides China's Car Inc with access to substantial resources and technological advancements. Baidu's Q1 2025 results highlighted the company's strong financial performance, with total group revenue reaching RMB 32.54 billion, up 15% year-over-year [NUMBER: 1]. This financial strength will be instrumental in supporting the new rental service's initial rollout and future growth.

The launch of this service aligns with the broader trend of Chinese Robotaxi firms shifting from pilot testing to real-world deployment. In 2025, these companies are expected to execute bold global expansion strategies, with WeRide, Pony.ai, and Baidu leading the way [NUMBER: 1]. China's Car Inc is well-positioned to benefit from this trend, as it seeks to establish a strong foothold in the autonomous driving market.

The partnership also reflects the broader industry trend of "learn-by-doing" strategies, where companies rapidly gather real-world data through large-scale deployment to improve their technologies and business models [NUMBER: 1]. By partnering with Baidu Apollo, China's Car Inc is adopting a similar approach, aiming to refine its autonomous driving capabilities in real-world conditions.

Looking ahead, the global Robotaxi industry is expected to see significant commercial scale-up in the 2025-2026 timeframe, driven by the efforts of leading companies like WeRide, Pony.ai, and Baidu [NUMBER: 1]. China's Car Inc's partnership with Baidu Apollo positions it to be a key player in this growth phase, with the potential to generate strong commercial momentum and contribute to the industry's overall success.

References:
[1] https://equalocean.com/analysis/2025070721597