Baidu's "Automotive Robot" is here! Featuring no steering wheel or pedals, Apollo has already served over 400,000 passengers.

Image source: Provided by Baidu Inc.

On August 18, Baidu joined forces with CCTV News to jointly host "AI in This Era: Stars and the Sea—Baidu World Conference 2021." During the conference's keynote session, Baidu's founder, Chairman, and CEO Robin Li, along with host Sa Beining, unveiled the forward-looking concept of the "Automotive Robot" while discussing AI-driven mobility solutions in real-time from CCTV's studio. They also debuted Baidu's groundbreaking "Automotive Robot," a vehicle that redefines the future of transportation. Meanwhile, Baidu launched "Luobo KuaiPao," an autonomous ride-hailing service platform. After eight years of development, Baidu Apollo has successfully transitioned from the technology validation phase into large-scale commercial operations, positioning itself as a global leader in advancing the second half of the autonomous driving era.
Li Yanhong said during the livestream: "We believe that cars of the future will evolve into 'car robots,' and these future 'robot' forms will closely resemble actual vehicles. Car robots will feature key attributes such as autonomous driving, intelligent assistants, loyal companionship, and self-learning capabilities." Baidu's car robot can serve people through three powerful capabilities: First, it boasts Level-5 autonomous driving, enabling vehicles to operate without human intervention—and even surpassing human drivers in safety; second, it offers advanced multi-modal interaction features like voice and facial recognition, allowing it to anticipate users' needs and proactively deliver tailored services; and finally, the car robot is equipped with self-learning and continuous upgrade abilities, making it a versatile intelligent entity ready to tackle a wide range of real-world scenarios.
The car robot design seen in the livestream can truly be described as daring to break convention and overturning traditional automotive design concepts. Externally, features like the automatic gull-wing doors, a fully glass roof, and integrated external sensors create a strikingly futuristic, high-tech vibe. Inside, the vehicle dispenses with a steering wheel and pedals altogether, instead featuring an oversized curved screen, an intelligent console, adaptive tinted glass, and zero-gravity seats—packed with cutting-edge smart technologies.
In recent years, intelligent technology has become a hot spot of competition in the automotive industry. Li Zhenyu, Senior Vice President of Baidu Group and General Manager of the Intelligent Driving Business Group, stated: "Autonomous driving capability has already emerged as the key battleground for winning in the smart car market." After years of technological accumulation, Baidu Apollo has continuously leveraged its core strengths in autonomous driving to empower automakers in developing smart vehicles with the ability to evolve continuously, ultimately delivering an intelligent driving experience that gives users peace of mind—whether it's "driving with confidence," "parking effortlessly," or "enjoying a seamless car experience."
As of the first half of 2021, Baidu Apollo’s autonomous driving ride-hailing service has already served over 400,000 passengers, with test mileage exceeding 14 million kilometers. The company now holds more than 2,900 autonomous driving patents and has launched manned services in four cities: Beijing, Guangzhou, Changsha, and Cangzhou. During the livestream, Robin Li was even seen commuting to and from work using the autonomous driving service in Xierqi, Beijing. It’s reported that Baidu Apollo plans to expand into more cities and operational scenarios in the future, addressing a wider range of mobility challenges while simultaneously exploring the next phase of large-scale commercial operations. Beyond autonomous driving, during the three-hour livestream that day, Baidu also showcased how artificial intelligence is transforming various aspects of life—ranging from transportation and daily living to industry and independent innovation—ultimately improving people’s quality of life. This year’s Baidu World Conference successfully brought cutting-edge technology closer to the public, making AI seamlessly integrated into every aspect of our daily lives—from clothing and food to housing and transportation—and, at the same time, empowering industries to embrace smarter, more efficient upgrades. Robin Li emphasized that AI is not just about technology—it’s about compassion too; it’s the harmonious blend of innovation and human warmth, enabling everyone to experience firsthand the profound impact technology can have on their lives. That, he said, is precisely the true value of technology.
Looking at Baidu's development trajectory, the company was founded in 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in 2005. In 2010, Baidu began expanding into AI-related businesses. Notably, Baidu started laying the groundwork for autonomous driving as early as 2013, and by 2017, it had launched Apollo, the world's first open platform for autonomous driving technology. Furthermore, this year, Baidu partnered with Geely to establish Jidu Auto, entering the automotive industry as a full-fledged vehicle manufacturer. Over the next five years, the company plans to invest approximately 50 billion RMB in this venture. Meanwhile, the electric vehicles independently developed and designed by Jidu Auto are expected to make their debut as early as next year at the Beijing Auto Show. In 2020, Baidu announced its autonomous driving initiatives in cities like Guangzhou, and since then, the company's stock price has surged dramatically—from around $120 in May 2020 to a peak of $350 in February 2021.
On March 23, 2021, Baidu was listed again on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with an offer price of HK$252 per share in Hong Kong. On its debut day, the stock closed flat, up just 0.08% from the issue price of HK$252, valuing the company at HK$713.434 billion. However, the stock price subsequently declined steadily, falling to HK$139 by August 18—a slight gain of 0.5%—with the company’s market capitalization dropping to HK$394.3 billion, nearly halving from its initial valuation upon listing.
Recently, Baidu released its Q2 2021 financial report, revealing that the company's total revenue reached approximately RMB 31.35 billion (the same applies below), representing a year-on-year increase of 20% and a quarter-on-quarter rise of 11%. Operating profit stood at RMB 3.463 billion, down 5% YoY but up 24% QoQ. Meanwhile, Baidu reported a net loss of about RMB 583 million, compared to a net profit of RMB 3.579 billion in the same period last year and RMB 25.653 billion in the previous quarter. In a research report, Citigroup highlighted Baidu's launch of the Apollo II minibus in Guangzhou, calling it a significant milestone and an important step for Baidu in the Robotaxi space. Similarly, CLSA expressed strong endorsement of the company's related initiatives, noting that "expanding into intelligent driving operations is poised to become a new growth driver for Baidu."

Translated from Sina Auto

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