Baidu to launch first Hong Kong public autonomous trial rides

More than 1,000 citizens will have a chance to ride in autonomous vehicles as Chinese tech giant Baidu stages Hong Kong's first community public trial ride event in Tung Chung from 21 October to 3 November.

The initiative aligns directly with the Hong Kong government’s latest Policy Address and its broader five-year economic and social development blueprint to accelerate autonomous transport across the city. Supported by the Transport Department, the public trial aims to build community trust while gathering critical real-world operational feedback.

Speaking to the South China Morning Post, Iris Wong, senior project and business development manager for Baidu’s intelligent driving group, described the event as a major milestone for Hong Kong’s autonomous driving ecosystem. Wong noted that the trial aims to showcase Baidu’s high safety standards and latest technological achievements, laying a solid foundation for AV fleets to eventually integrate into the city's regular public transit network.

After the trial rides, questionnaires will be used to collect genuine feedback and opinions from citizens and residents, providing reference data for subsequent technical optimisation and implementation.

To facilitate public participation, 600 ride vouchers will be distributed to local residents through the Islands District Council. Following each journey, participants will complete surveys to assist Baidu engineers with ongoing technical optimisation.

Apollo Go received Hong Kong's first autonomous vehicle pilot licence in November 2024, with its testing areas gradually expanding from the initial Airport Island to North Lantau, Kowloon East and Southern District on Hong Kong Island.

The autonomous vehicle testing project in Tung Chung, was approved in February, extending the test route from Airport Island to Tung Chung and Sunny Bay, formally launching cross-district testing while also increasing the number of operating vehicles.

By July, the project was permitted to add remote backup operators while retaining onboard backup operators, with the remote control centre monitoring vehicle operations in real time, thereby collecting more key data.

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