Baidu’s Apollo Go teams up with PostBus to launch autonomous AmiGo service in Switzerland
- Perry Richardson
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Baidu’s autonomous ride-hailing arm, Apollo Go, has entered into a strategic partnership with PostBus, the public transport subsidiary of Swiss Post, to launch an on-demand driverless mobility service called AmiGo in Switzerland.
The service aims to support the country’s existing public transport network by offering on-demand connections using autonomous vehicles. Operations will begin in eastern Switzerland, serving areas across the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Appenzell Innerrhoden.
Testing will begin in December 2025 with a pilot fleet carrying out mapping runs and supervised journeys with safety drivers on board. The project will move into passenger trials during the first half of 2026 before progressing to fully driverless operations later in the year. Regular commercial service is expected to begin by the first quarter of 2027, once all safety and quality standards are met.
AmiGo will use Baidu’s latest-generation RT6 autonomous electric vehicles, which are capable of Level 4 autonomy. The RT6 can carry up to four passengers and features a detachable steering wheel that will be removed when the vehicles operate without human drivers. The design supports both private trips and shared carpooling options to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
PostBus, one of Switzerland’s leading public transport providers, will operate the AmiGo service. The company already has experience testing autonomous shuttles and is recognised for its work in integrating emerging technologies into public transport operations. Its partnership with Apollo Go marks a major step in developing a scalable model for autonomous mobility within the country.
The initiative has received wide institutional backing from multiple Swiss cantons, including St. Gallen and Thurgau, as well as national authorities such as the Federal Office of Transport and the Federal Roads Office. The Touring Club of Switzerland and other partners are also supporting the introduction of the new service.
Officials say the collaboration supports Switzerland’s national strategy to integrate autonomous transport into its mobility network, aiming to enhance accessibility and sustainability. By combining PostBus’s extensive local transport experience with Apollo Go’s large-scale operational expertise, both organisations plan to expand the service to more areas once the system proves successful.
For Baidu, the partnership marks another milestone in its international expansion. Apollo Go currently operates fully driverless services across 16 cities worldwide, including Hong Kong, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The company manages a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles and has completed over 14 million passenger rides globally, covering more than 200 million kilometres.
Apollo Go’s entry into the Swiss market reflects growing confidence in autonomous vehicle technology and its potential to complement traditional public transport. If successful, AmiGo could serve as a model for other European countries looking to introduce autonomous ride-hailing services as part of their public mobility systems.
Liang Zhang, Managing Director of EMEA, Baidu Apollo, said: "We are honored to partner with an operator as reputable as PostBus to introduce autonomous ride-hailing service in Switzerland.
"As the world's leading and China's largest operator of Level 4 autonomous vehicles, we are bringing our globally proven technology and operational expertise — gained from a fully driverless fleet operating in over a dozen cities — to Europe. We will work closely with PostBus to enhance smart mobility in Switzerland, supplementing the existing public transport network and contributing to the nation's reputation for innovation."
