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Malay Mail
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Report: Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxis may hit Malaysia, Singapore roads in 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — Baidu is planning to launch its Apollo Go robotaxi operations in Malaysia and Singapore as early as this year, Bloomberg reported today. A person familiar with the matter said the move is part of the Chinese tech giant's broader push to extend its global footprint beyond China. They added discussions are ongoing with potential local partners to identify suitable business models for the two markets. 'We are looking at mobility service providers, local taxi companies and third-party fleet operators,' Baidu Chief Executive Robin Li has previously said, describing the company's preference for an 'asset-light approach'. The timing of Baidu's planned expansion coincides with growing momentum in the global autonomous vehicle race. Tesla is set to unveil its Cybercab robotaxi network within days, with CEO Elon Musk betting big on autonomous driving to fuel future growth. Baidu's Apollo Go is among a trio of Chinese robotaxi companies — alongside WeRide and — stepping up efforts to enter markets in the Middle East, Europe, and South-east Asia. The Apollo Go service has already made strides at home. It has deployed more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles worldwide, mostly in China, and notched 11 million rides as of the first quarter of 2025. That puts it ahead of US rival Waymo, Alphabet Inc.'s self-driving unit, which reported 10 million paid rides as of May. Beyond South-east Asia, Baidu is also eyeing new frontiers in Europe and Turkey. It has been in talks with PostAuto, a subsidiary of Swiss Post, to introduce robotaxis in Switzerland. Baidu has yet to issue an official statement on its South-east Asia plans.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
US firm to unload stakes in 40 Chinese tech start-ups as venture funding turns inward
Shares of a few dozen China-based start-ups may be up for grabs as their investor, US venture-capital firm Eight Roads, plans to exit its Chinese technology holdings. Advertisement The move, reported by Bloomberg on Tuesday, comes as geopolitical tensions and a sluggish Chinese economy prompt some global investors to retreat. Domestic and government-backed funds and financing products would increasingly drive start-up funding in the world's second-largest economy, analysts said. Fidelity Ventures-backed Eight Roads, an early investor in China's internet sector including Alibaba Group Holding, began exploring the divestment of about 40 Chinese tech companies earlier this year, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The firm has invested around US$1.1 billion in about 130 Chinese companies, according to its website. Alibaba owns the Post. The companies would be sold at a discount ranging from 60 per cent to 80 per cent of their peak valuation, which was about US$1 billion combined, the report said. The stakes include that of self-driving car company which Eight Roads still holds due to a lock-up period. Eight Roads was expected to focus on its healthcare business in China. The company did not respond to the Post's request for comments. Advertisement Venture-capital financing in China more than halved to US$6 billion in the first quarter of this year from a year earlier amid a regional decline, according to a KPMG report. 'The downturn was largely driven by persistent challenges in China, including economic uncertainty and ongoing real estate sector issues' amid broader geopolitical tensions, the report said.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Musk Says Tesla Robotaxi Launch Tentatively Planned for June 22
Tesla expects to launch its long-anticipated robotaxi service tentatively on June 22, CEO Elon Musk said. The date for the launch in Austin, Texas, could shift because Tesla is being 'super paranoid about safety,' Musk said in a post on X late Tuesday. News Sites Are Getting Crushed by Google's New AI Tools X's Sales Pitch: Give Us Your Ad Business or We'll Sue Is the Immigration Crackdown Already Showing Up in the Labor Market? Moody's Sounds Alarm on Private Funds for Individuals ABC News Parts Ways With Correspondent After X Post Critical of Trump Aide Musk also shared a clip of a driverless black Model Y SUV testing on public roads in Austin. Tesla is hoping to derive much of its future business from robotics and artificial intelligence. Musk has portrayed the launch of driverless vehicles as central to Tesla's future success and valuation, saying robots and self-driving cars could propel Tesla's market value to at least $30 trillion. The stakes are high for Tesla, as its core business of making and selling EVs has been under pressure amid slack buyer demand and increased competition from Chinese EV makers such as BYD. Tesla's robotaxi competes against Alphabet's Waymo domestically, which launched the service in 2020 and operates in several cities, including San Francisco and Austin. Tesla's robotaxi development has lagged behind its Chinese rivals. Baidu's Apollo Go, WeRide and Pony AI, the 'Big Three' of China's autonomous driving scene, have launched robotaxi services in China and have recently expanded their footprints to the Middle East with ambitions of global operations. China's robotaxi fleet currently stands at around 1,700. 'This is a major endeavor for Musk and Tesla,' Wedbush analysts led by Dan Ives said in a research note, as 'the vast majority of valuation upside looking ahead for Tesla is centered around the success of its autonomous vision taking hold with this key launch in Austin ahead.' Write to Sherry Qin at Meta in Talks to Invest $14 Billion in Scale AI, Hire CEO Alexandr Wang The Media and Entertainment Deal Machine Is Revving Up Cyberattack on Food Distributor Leaves Supermarket Shelves Running Low Apple Executives Defend Apple Intelligence, Siri and AI Strategy Google Extends Employee Buyout Offers in Push to Raise AI Spending Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Daily Express
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Express
Driverless lorries: China eyes transport change
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025 By: BBC Text Size: A Rino AI delivery truck cruises on the road in China (Pic: BBC/ Joyce Liu) BEIJING: They rumble down the highway between Beijing and Tianjin port: big lorries, loaded up and fully able to navigate themselves. Sure, there is a safety driver in the seat, as per government regulations, but these lorries don't require them, and many analysts say it won't take long before they are gone. Advertisement When 'safety driver' Huo Kangtian, 32, first takes his hands off the wheel, and lets the lorry drive itself, it is somehow impressive and disconcerting in equal measures. For the initial stages of the journey, he is in full control. Then - at a certain point – he hits a few buttons, and the powerful, heavy machine is driving itself, moving at speed along a public road to Tianjin. 'Of course, I felt a bit scared the first time I drove an autonomous truck,' says Huo. 'But, after spending a lot of time observing and testing these machines, I think they are actually pretty good and safe.' As the lorry veers off the freeway and up a ramp towards the toll gates, the machine is still driving itself. On the other side of the tollgate, Mr Huo again presses a few buttons, and he is back in charge. Advertisement 'My job as a safety driver is to act as the last line of defence. For example, in the case of an emergency, I would have to take back control of the vehicle immediately to ensure everyone's safety,' he explains. In terms of the upsides for a driver, he says that switching to autonomous mode can help combat stress and fatigue, as well as freeing up hands and feet for other tasks. He says it doesn't make his job boring, but rather more interesting. When asked if he is worried that this technology may one day render his job obsolete, he says he doesn't know too much about this. It's the diplomatic answer. Pony AI's fleet of driverless lorries, currently operating on these test routes, is only the start of what is to come, the company's vice-president Li Hengyu tells the BBC. 'In the future, with driverless operations, our transportation efficiency will definitely be greatly improved,' he says. 'For example, labour costs will be reduced but, more importantly, we can deal better with harsh environments and long hours driving.' What this all boils down to is saving money, says industry expert Yang Ruigang, a technology professor from Shanghai Jiaotong University, who has extensive experience working on driverless technology in both China and the US. 'Anything that can reduce operating costs is something a company would like to have, so it's fairly easy to justify the investment in having a fully autonomous, driverless truck,' he tells the BBC. In short, he says, the goal is simple: 'Reduce the driver cost close to zero.' However, significant hurdles remain before lorries will be allowed to drive themselves on roads around the world – not the least of which is public concern. In China, self-driving technology suffered a major setback following an accident which killed three university students after their vehicle had been in 'auto pilot' mode. Economist Intelligence Unit analyst Chim Lee says the Chinese public still has quite a way to go before it is won over. 'We know that recent accidents involving passenger cars have caused a huge uproar in China. So, for driverless trucks – even though they tend to be more specific to certain locations for the time being – the public's image of them is going to be absolutely critical for policy makers, and for the market as well, compared to passenger vehicles.' Professor Yang agrees that lorry drivers are unlikely to lose their jobs in large numbers just yet. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
South China Morning Post
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- South China Morning Post
After CATL's IPO spark, China's EV leaders bank on Hong Kong for growth funds
More than a dozen smart mobility companies from mainland China are making a beeline to raise funds in Hong Kong, capitalising on the growing appetite among global investors for the country's unpolished industrial gems. Advertisement The prospective initial public offerings (IPOs) from electric vehicle (EV) assemblers like Chery Automobile and Seres Group to autonomous driving technology providers such as are expected to enhance China's leading automotive technologies on the global stage, bankers and analysts said. 'They gravitate to Hong Kong where international investors are actively hunting for China's next industry leaders, those with the potential to grab a considerable share of the global market,' said Ding Haifeng, a consultant at Integrity, a Shanghai-based financial advisory firm. Successful IPOs 'would be an endorsement of Chinese EV makers and supply-chain vendors', he added. 03:30 Global carmakers cede world's largest auto show to Chinese EVs Global carmakers cede world's largest auto show to Chinese EVs Some of the candidates could launch jumbo deals, with proceeds exceeding US$1 billion each, Ding added, which could further strengthen Hong Kong's leading position as the world's busiest venue for IPOs this year. Advertisement
