The global push for autonomous mobility just picked up speed.
Chinese tech giant Baidu (BIDU) and U.S. ride-hailing leader Uber (UBER) announced a multi-year partnership to deploy thousands of driverless Apollo Go vehicles across several international markets. The move sent Baidu’s stock soaring while Uber took a modest dip.
Baidu’s Breakthrough: Going Global With Apollo Go
Baidu shares jumped nearly 9% on Tuesday following its announcement of a strategic partnership with Uber to integrate its Apollo Go autonomous vehicles into Uber’s platform. The agreement marks a major step for Baidu, as it seeks to commercialize its self-driving technology beyond China’s borders.
Initial deployments are set to begin later this year in Asia and the Middle East, where riders may be offered the option to travel in a fully driverless vehicle. The Apollo Go fleet—already operating over 1,000 robotaxis in cities including Dubai and Abu Dhabi—has completed more than 11 million rides, making it one of the most active autonomous fleets globally.
For Baidu, this is not only a validation of its autonomous vehicle program but also a timely boost to a stock that had been trading flat for most of the year. With U.S.-listed shares now back above $93, the company is aiming to translate technological achievement into sustained investor confidence.
Uber: Spreading the Robotaxi Bet
Uber’s stock edged down nearly 2% despite the high-profile partnership, a sign of cautious investor sentiment. While robotaxis are often viewed as potential threats to Uber’s core ride-hailing business, the company has embraced them—aggressively.
Uber has already inked deals with Waymo, Pony AI, Volkswagen, and others, and invested $100 million into China's WeRide earlier this year. With Baidu now in the fold, Uber is effectively hedging its bets, ensuring that if the autonomous future arrives faster than expected, it has a stake in the winning technologies.
This latest deal positions Uber not as a disruptee, but as a platform that can flexibly integrate both human drivers and autonomous fleets. The company’s ability to scale rapidly, with over 170 million active users and billions of rides each quarter, makes it an attractive channel for AV deployment.
Uber’s stock edged down nearly 2% despite the high-profile partnership, a sign of cautious investor sentiment. While robotaxis are often viewed as potential threats to Uber’s core ride-hailing business, the company has embraced them—aggressively.
Uber has already inked deals with Waymo, Pony AI, Volkswagen, and others, and invested $100 million into China's WeRide earlier this year. With Baidu now in the fold, Uber is effectively hedging its bets, ensuring that if the autonomous future arrives faster than expected, it has a stake in the winning technologies.
This latest deal positions Uber not as a disruptee, but as a platform that can flexibly integrate both human drivers and autonomous fleets. The company’s ability to scale rapidly, with over 170 million active users and billions of rides each quarter, makes it an attractive channel for AV deployment.
Strategic Implications and Market Reaction
Baidu CEO Robin Li called the partnership “a major milestone,” while Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted the opportunity to “shape the future of mobility.” Analysts see the collaboration as a pragmatic move that serves both sides—Uber gains access to a scalable AV fleet outside of U.S. regulatory constraints, and Baidu secures global exposure for its AV tech without building distribution from scratch.
Baidu is still battling investor skepticism tied to China’s regulatory environment and its legacy search business. But with shares trading at just 9 times trailing earnings, the potential of Apollo Go adds a compelling layer to the narrative.
Uber, on the other hand, remains one of the top-performing U.S. tech stocks in 2025, up more than 50% year-to-date. With second-quarter earnings due August 6, the company will face new scrutiny on how these AV partnerships are impacting its bottom line.
Baidu CEO Robin Li called the partnership “a major milestone,” while Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi highlighted the opportunity to “shape the future of mobility.” Analysts see the collaboration as a pragmatic move that serves both sides—Uber gains access to a scalable AV fleet outside of U.S. regulatory constraints, and Baidu secures global exposure for its AV tech without building distribution from scratch.
Baidu is still battling investor skepticism tied to China’s regulatory environment and its legacy search business. But with shares trading at just 9 times trailing earnings, the potential of Apollo Go adds a compelling layer to the narrative.
Uber, on the other hand, remains one of the top-performing U.S. tech stocks in 2025, up more than 50% year-to-date. With second-quarter earnings due August 6, the company will face new scrutiny on how these AV partnerships are impacting its bottom line.
Global Robotaxi Competition Heats Up
The Baidu-Uber alliance adds fuel to a growing race to dominate autonomous mobility, with clear implications for ride-hailing, urban transport, and the broader AI ecosystem. For Baidu, the move could finally unlock global value for a company often called “the Google of China.” For Uber, it’s another calculated step to ensure it doesn’t get left behind in a driverless future.
The Baidu-Uber alliance adds fuel to a growing race to dominate autonomous mobility, with clear implications for ride-hailing, urban transport, and the broader AI ecosystem. For Baidu, the move could finally unlock global value for a company often called “the Google of China.” For Uber, it’s another calculated step to ensure it doesn’t get left behind in a driverless future.
Considering a $1,000 investment in these companies?
Our team at Stock Investor carefully curated a list of top stocks with the potential for significant returns, suitable for beginners and seasoned investors alike who are eager to learn a trade and unearth the best stocks to buy. Though not featured in this article, these selected stocks could be game-changers in the future.For those seeking dynamic trading experiences, consider joining our Swing Trade Alerts, Option Income Alert, or our Trading Room. Take advantage of our special offer today, starting at just $1 in the first month.
Unlock the secrets of Smart Money
Explore how billionaires and institutions are influencing the market. Follow their every move with DarkOption Flow and stay updated on essential market insights. Begin your journey to informed investing today!
Education
And if you're a fan of Invest opedia, you'll appreciate what we offer at SharperTrades even more. Explore our comprehensive option trading course and technical trading course, where you can learn trading, analyze stocks, delve into chart patterns for stocks, and gain invaluable insights for making the best company investments.
Unlock Your Stock Market Edge with SharperTrades. Dive into powerful trading tools, learn a trade, and receive expert guidance. Stay up-to-date with regular market updates. Learn trading, basics of investing, and how to pick the best stocks to buy. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned investor and trader, we've got you covered. Get started for free, today!