๐๐ค Europe sets its sights on autonomous driving โ Ursula von der Leyen calls for an โAI firstโ push!
Speaking at Italian Tech Week in Turin, the President of the European Commission urged the EU to build a network of cities for testing self-driving cars โ to reinvigorate the European auto sector and improve road safety. She emphasized that autonomous vehicles are already becoming a reality in the U.S. and China, and insisted Europe must not lag behind. Her vision: โAI firstโ should also mean โsafety first.โ
Von der Leyen stressed the need for vehicles designed and built in Europe for European streets, hoping this will help reduce congestion, connect remote regions, and preserve jobs in mobility.
๐ Meanwhile, $9888.HK (Baidu Inc) and $LYFT (LYFT Inc) (through collaborations and partnerships) are gearing up for their European launch of robotaxi services. Under a newly announced partnership with Lyft, Baidu plans to deploy its RT6 autonomous vehicles via Lyftโs platform starting in Germany and the U.K. in 2026 (pending regulatory approval).
There are also reports that Baidu is preparing to test robotaxi services in Switzerland, working toward establishing a European presence there.
๐ก From an investment perspective, this acceleration of autonomy in Europe is a key trend to watch. The entry of strong players like Baidu into European markets could reshape the mobility landscape.
โ Baidu remains my largest position โ I believe its leadership in AI and autonomous driving positions it well for the coming wave of innovation across continents.
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