Qi Lu Wan Bao·2025-09-19 01:42Core Viewpoint - The Hong Kong government is accelerating the development of autonomous driving towards unmanned and large-scale operations, aiming for commercial deployment, with Baidu Apollo actively participating in this initiative [1][4]. Group 1: Government Initiatives - Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced plans to promote the commercialization of autonomous driving in the 2025 policy address [1]. - Baidu Apollo has been granted a pilot license for autonomous vehicles and is conducting tests in Hong Kong under government support [4]. Group 2: Baidu Apollo's Developments - Baidu Apollo has expanded its "Apollo Go" public road testing from the airport island and Tung Chung to the Southern District, including more complex urban environments [4]. - The company aims to leverage its testing experience in Hong Kong to expand into other regions, particularly right-hand drive markets [4]. Group 3: Future Plans and Community Engagement - Baidu Apollo plans to conduct phased and region-specific testing while recruiting and training local talent, and engaging in academic and research collaborations [5]. - The company intends to organize technology lectures and online courses to educate the public about autonomous driving technology [5]. Group 4: Market Performance - Baidu's stock price surged significantly, with a 16% increase on September 17, and a total increase of over 60% year-to-date, approaching a market capitalization of 400 billion HKD [11]. - Analysts from various international investment banks have expressed optimism about Baidu's AI and autonomous driving business, with target prices for the stock being raised [11].