Chinese search engine giant Baidu said on Vice Versa: Bisexuality and the Eroticism of Everyday LifeWednesday it expects its key robotaxi business to break even in the fourth quarter of this year and aims to be the first autonomous ride-hailing project to profit by 2025, as planned. The country’s top search engine unveiled its sixth generation self-driving car, a battery-powered multipurpose vehicle costing RMB 204,600 ($28,316), a fraction of its original price. The RT6, a four-seated all-electric van boasting a spacious cabin, manufactured by partner Jiangling Motors, measures 4.8 meters in length with a wheelbase of roughly 2.8 meters. It is powered by a swappable battery pack and equipped with dozens of sensors, including cameras and lidar units, to allow driverless operations. French market intelligence company Yole Développement estimated in 2018 that robocars would have to be priced at no less than $200,000.
Baidu said it plans to deploy 1,000 such vehicles by year-end in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where it now operates a fully autonomous fleet with hundreds of robotaxis over 3,000 square kilometers (1,158 square miles). The Beijing-headquartered tech company, dubbed “China’s Google,” does not provide a full breakdown of its research and development costs, but chief executive Robin Li told Bloomberg in April 2021 that the firm spent RMB 20 billion on vehicle autonomy in 2020. Li added that the company was determined to invest hugely in self-driving technologies over the next 10-20 years. The latest move comes after news that the Chinese government would allow Tesla to test and operate robotaxis, an idea proposed by its boss Elon Musk during his visit to the country last month, according to a report by China Daily on May 9.
“With decreasing costs and increasing orders, Apollo Go’s unit economics (UE) is nearing break-even, expected to achieve balance in the fourth quarter of 2024 and turn profitable by 2025,” Baidu said in a press release. [TechNode reporting]
Note: This article has been updated to include an announcement released on May 15, which highlighted the unit economics (UE) of Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go, not the company’s self-driving car business, is nearing break-even.
Three Apps to Combine All Your Messaging Clients Into One
This is why you should never, ever leave your phone at work
'History Is All You Left Me,' our next MashReads book, will break your heart
5 times when intolerant India had a problem with Bollywood
Early Prime Day deals on self
Google employees protest Trump's immigration ban
Comedian creates commercials for Obamacare registration since Trump pulled the ads
This space agency is planning to launch 104 satellites in one go
Many Indigenous communities still lack broadband internet. Here's why.
Mahershala Ali just gave a powerful SAG speech about accepting differences
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers 2025 livestream: Watch NBA online
Air Canada shows it stands with refugees by helping reunite a Syrian family
Petition to stop Trump's state visit to the UK tops 1 million signatures
'Irresponsible and irrational:' Aussie startups speak out on Muslim ban
Best air purifier deal: Save $300 on the Dyson HEPA Big + Quiet air purifier
Barbie saves a planet in new comic series, may save ours
Google throws shade at Trump's 'Muslim ban' with a historical Doodle
David Beckham reveals the secret to his long
Chiefs vs. Texans 2025 livestream: Watch NFL Playoffs for free
What CEOs are saying about the Muslim ban, and what they actually mean
Premier League 2024Best Labor Day sale outdoor deals: Amazon, REI, Home Deopt and moreWordle today: The answer and hints for August 31PlayStation shuts down 'Concord' two weeks after launchWordle today: The answer and hints for September 2Wordle today: The answer and hints for August 30In Starliner fallout, 2 women lose their ride to spaceConnecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics 2024 livestream: Watch live WNBA'The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom' handsGmail on Android now lets you ask Gemini to find that pesky lost emailSolawave Labor Day sale 2024Stephen King has 3 words to describe Mike Flanagan's 'The Life of Chuck' adaptation42 movies you'll want to see this fallGoogle is training AI to 'hear' when you're sick. Here's how it works.NASA's plan to return Mars rocks is in trouble. Could these 7 companies help?Wordle today: The answer and hints for September 1The best Amazon Labor Day sales that are still livePlayStation shuts down 'Concord' two weeks after launchNYT Strands hints, answers for September 4The best Amazon Labor Day sales that are still live 'Mass Effect' brings totally f*ckable aliens to 'Cards Against Humanity' British and Irish Lions 2025 livestream: How to watch Lions Tour for free Someone got banned from Club Penguin in 39 seconds Netflix's 'Mystery Science Theater' gets release date, perfect cast photo That's it, Netflix just cornered the comedy Jay Z will be the first rapper in Songwriters Hall of Fame and it's about damn time iPhone users spent an average of $40 on the App Store in 2016 Kellyanne Conway reportedly benched from TV by Team Trump The Pope is still enjoying a one The Chainsmokers and Coldplay release a boring song about being boring Ford's self Gentle koala investigating his carer's arm is what dreams are made of Here's what the Ice Age tells us about future sea level rise Can everyone quit hanging out with dolphins while we're stuck in the office? Michael C. Hall makes a great point about David Bowie's Brit award win This startup buys and fixes up languishing mobile games and tools Project Entrepreneur: ZoomDojo co Peeps Oreos taste nothing like Peeps, and that's a good thing Don't challenge this 6 Hug a tree while you still can: U.S. forests are disappearing
3.0383s , 10164.078125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Vice Versa: Bisexuality and the Eroticism of Everyday Life】,Pursuit Information Network