Baidu’s autonomous driving unit Apollo and Chinese rental company Car Inc have launched the country’s first autonomous vehicle rental service, the companies said Tuesday.
The service allows users aged 18 and above to reserve self-driving cars for trips ranging from four hours to seven days. The first batch of vehicles, developed by Baidu’s Apollo, can carry up to three passengers.
The new offering aims to provide flexible, on-demand travel to city landmarks and tourist destinations, while expanding mobility access for unlicensed drivers, international visitors, older adults, and people with disabilities.
Baidu and Car Inc said they plan to refine the service based on user feedback and expand to more cities over the next three to five years. They will also work together to develop safety, reliability, and stability standards for autonomous vehicle rentals.
The companies expect the initiative to support growth in China’s car rental market, which is projected to exceed 300 billion yuan (about $41 billion) by 2030. Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service has already completed more than nine million rides in several cities and logged more than 130 million autonomous kilometers.
The new service combines Apollo’s self-driving technology with Car Inc’s nationwide rental network. Pilot programs will begin in the second quarter of 2025.
