Chinese tech giant Baidu is preparing to test its autonomous taxi service, Apollo Go, in Europe for the first time, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
According to the newspaper, the company plans to set up a local entity in Switzerland in the coming months and intends to begin testing its technology before the end of the year. Baidu has reportedly entered into discussions with PostAuto, the Swiss bus service provider, to introduce its robotaxi service in the country.
However, when contacted by Reuters, Swiss Post, the parent company, denied any formal cooperation with Baidu or any other technology provider. "Swiss Post, through its Mobility Services division, is also considering the future of mobility and the changing expectations of its customers," it said.
The WSJ adds that Baidu is also considering launching Apollo Go in Turkey.
Apollo Go is already operational in several Chinese cities. The largest fleet, with over 400 vehicles, operates in Wuhan, in the center of the country, making Baidu one of the most advanced players in the deployment of autonomous vehicles on an urban scale.
