Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service Apollo Go will run a 14-day free public trial in Hong Kong from October 21 to November 3, marking the platform's first open rides in the city1. The trial, based in the Tung Chung district, is expected to accommodate more than 1,000 riders2.
Each ride will last approximately 15 minutes and cover about 5.1 km, looping from Car Park No. 1 in Yat Tung Estate past the Sheraton Hong Kong Tung Chung Hotel and back to the starting point. Vehicles will carry two passengers per trip; the front passenger seat will remain unavailable during the trial. Tickets are physical and will be distributed by district offices starting October 16, with only ticket holders eligible to participate.
Apollo Go was the first company in Hong Kong to obtain a pilot licence for autonomous vehicles, and its fleet has logged more than 280,000 km safely in the city to date. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been promoting autonomous-vehicle development as a policy priority.
ANALYSIS The trial arrives amid broader global robotaxi activity: Pony.ai and Uber expanded autonomous-vehicle testing to Manchester on October 14[1], and Tesla's Cybercab fleet in Austin has been growing rapidly in the same period[3].
The trial's two-passenger, safety-constrained format and ticket-gated access keep the scope controlled. Rides begin October 21 and close November 3.