Baidu’s autonomous mobility platform Apollo Go has secured a key regulatory approval in Switzerland, marking a significant step forward in its push into the European market.
The company said that AmiGo, an on-demand autonomous mobility service developed through a partnership between Apollo Go and Swiss Post subsidiary PostBus, received on June 12 a special operating permit from Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). The permit covers Level 4 autonomous vehicle operations in eastern Switzerland, a category in which vehicles can operate without human control under defined conditions. The approval allows AmiGo to conduct autonomous driving trials under a defined regulatory framework and moves it closer to a planned commercial rollout in 2027.
The development builds on expansion plans disclosed late last year, when Apollo Go and PostBus announced preparations for autonomous vehicle trials in Switzerland as part of Baidu’s broader effort to establish a presence in Europe.
Under the permit, AmiGo vehicles have been conducting open-road testing since June 1 across an approximately 80-square-kilometer service area spanning the cantons of St Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerrhoden. The trials are currently operating with safety operators on board while the partners gather operational data and demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements.
