Chinese technology giant Baidu will expand its autonomous ride-hailing business “faster than ever” and Watch Operation Condor Onlineis seeking collaborative partners to multiply its driverless fleet size, chief executive Robin Li told investors on Tuesday during an earnings call. “We have identified a variety of potential partners, including mobility service providers, local taxi companies, third-party fleet operators, and other potential partners. This asset-light approach will allow us to scale up efficiently while maintaining flexibility,” said Li. The comments come after a report by the Wall Street Journal which stated that the Chinese search engine was considering deploying its autonomous ride-hailing service in the United Arab Emirates and had been in discussions with the local government. [TechNode reporting, Motley Fool]
