---
title: "The Digest: Baidu’s Autonomous Buses Will Start Transporting Passengers in Japan Next Year"
description: "Baidu has agreed to produce 10 of its autonomous buses for Japan's SB Drive, proving the company has ambitions for the Apalong beyond China."
date: "2018-07-05"
modified: "2018-07-05"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/autonomous-buses-baidu-japan"
categories:
  - "Advanced Transport"
  - "Self-Driving Vehicles"
tags:
  - "Autonomous vehicles"
  - "baidu"
  - "Japan"
  - "public transportation"
  - "the digest"
---

# The Digest: Baidu’s Autonomous Buses Will Start Transporting Passengers in Japan Next Year

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/baidu.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Baidu/Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

**FROM CHINA, WITH LOVE.** On Wednesday, Internet giant [Baidu ](<https://www.baidu.com/>)(the Google of China) announced a new partnership. Baidu has agreed to produce 10 of its self-driving Apolong buses for [SB Drive](<https://www.softbank.jp/en/drive/>), a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, according to [a *Bloomberg* report](<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-04/baidu-unveils-ai-chip-as-it-revs-up-self-driving-bus-production>). Chinese bus manufacturer King Long will handle the production of the autonomous buses, which could arrive in Japan as soon as early-2019. Company executives made the announcement at Baidu Create 2018, the company's annual AI developer conference in Beijing.

**MEET THE APALONG.** Each 14-passenger Apolong bus is capable of [Level 4 autonomy](<https://www.techrepublic.com/article/autonomous-driving-levels-0-to-5-understanding-the-differences/>) — that means they're "fully autonomous" but aren't designed to handle *every* possible driving scenario. The buses operate using Baidu's [Apollo autonomous driving system](<http://apollo.auto/>), the basis for Baidu's partnerships with [Ford](<https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/5/15923966/baidu-apollo-self-driving-car-platform-ford-intel-nvidia>), [Honda](<https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Honda-joins-Baidu-s-autonomous-driving-alliance>), and other companies.

As of Wednesday, Baidu has produced [100 of the vehicles](<https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/03/baidu-just-made-its-100th-autonomous-bus-ahead-of-commercial-launch-in-china/>). While most of those are slated to carry passengers in China, the partnership with SB Drive confirms that Baidu has ambitions for the Apalong beyond its home nation.

**SAFER, CLEANER TRANSPORTATION.** This isn't the first time Japan has expressed interest in [autonomous public transportation](<https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/09/03/national/autonomous-bus-test-starts-tochigi-prefecture-roadside-rest-area/#.Wz53KxJKiV4>), nor is Baidu the only company creating such vehicles. There are several good reasons for that.

First, public transportation is [better for the environment,](<https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/environmental-programs/transit-environmental-sustainability/transit-role>) and it can help cities cope with the issue of transporting [ever-growing populations](<http://www.voicesforpublictransit.org/content.aspx?page=issues&id=Issue5>). Second, experts predict autonomous vehicles will be [far safer](<https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automated-vehicles-safety>) than their human-driven counterparts.

Autonomous buses, then, could be the safest, most environmentally friendly way to move from point A to point B, and Baidu appears ready to help usher in this new era of transportation.

**READ MORE:** [Baidu Unveils AI Chip as It Revs up Self-Driving Bus Production](<https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-07-04/baidu-unveils-ai-chip-as-it-revs-up-self-driving-bus-production>) \[*Bloomberg*\]

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)