Chinese technology giant Baidu will expand its autonomous ride-hailing business “faster than ever” and Watch V Onlineis seeking collaborative partners to multiply its driverless fleet size, chief executive Robin Li told investors on Tuesday during an earnings call. “We have identified a variety of potential partners, including mobility service providers, local taxi companies, third-party fleet operators, and other potential partners. This asset-light approach will allow us to scale up efficiently while maintaining flexibility,” said Li. The comments come after a report by the Wall Street Journal which stated that the Chinese search engine was considering deploying its autonomous ride-hailing service in the United Arab Emirates and had been in discussions with the local government. [TechNode reporting, Motley Fool]
