Baidu’s autonomous driving unit Apollo and Chinese car rental company CAR Inc have launched the world’s first autonomous car rental service for the general public.
Based on Baidu Apollo’s advanced Level 4 autonomous driving platform, the new service is fully integrated with CAR Inc’s nationwide rental network and fleet operations.
It is the first offering in China to combine fully autonomous driving with a completely self-service rental process.
Reservations are made via the CAR Inc mobile app for users aged 18 and above.
The three-step rental process covers:
- Book: Select time and pickup location. The system assigns the nearest available vehicle.
- Retrieve: The car autonomously arrives at the designated spot and unlocks after ID verification.
- Return: The vehicle navigates itself to a user-specified drop-off point, with no human intervention required.
The initial fleet consists of custom Apollo vehicles equipped with Baidu’s driverless system that can accommodate up to three passengers. Pricing matches CAR Inc’s existing short-term rental rates with flexible booking durations from four hours to seven days.
Users are free to set their own routes within the operational area, making the service suitable for daily commutes, weekend trips and visits to dining, scenic or cultural sites.
The launch comes as China’s car rental market is projected to exceed RMB300 billion (about US$41 billion) by 2030, driven by rising demand for flexible, tech-enabled mobility solutions. Autonomous rental services are expected to appeal to urban users, tourists, and those unable or unwilling to drive, including the elderly, unlicensed individuals, international visitors, and people with disabilities.
Entelechy Asia 