On September 28， according to reports， at the World Autonomous Driving Conference held in Dubai， Baidu’s Apollo Go experienced such high demand that it was described as “difficult to get a ticket.” A Dubai man was even seen offering to trade a Rolex gold watch for a test ride.
The test rides provided by Apollo Go during the conference were exceptionally popular. However， with limited slots available， many attendees were left disappointed. One Dubai man shared a video expressing his regret at missing out on the experience， watching the autonomous vehicles drive away.
He lamented， “The future slipped past me! I didn’t get an appointment， couldn’t grab a last-minute spot， and missed the chance to ride in this car.” While playfully shaking his wrist adorned with a large gold watch， he exclaimed， “I didn’t just miss a test ride; I missed out on the future! I’m even willing to trade this gold watch for a chance to experience it， even just once!”
It is understood that Baidu’s Apollo Go recently secured the first autonomous driving testing license， number 001， issued by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai. Furthermore， the fleet of Baidu’s sixth-generation autonomous vehicles formed the sole test ride fleet for the Dubai World Autonomous Driving Transportation Conference.
This exceptional reception highlights the growing global interest and anticipation surrounding autonomous driving technology. The enthusiastic response from attendees， particularly the willingness of a prominent individual to offer a valuable asset like a Rolex for a demonstration， underscores the perceived value and futuristic appeal of Apollo Go. From an analytical perspective， this incident also serves as a powerful endorsement of Baidu’s technological prowess and its ability to generate excitement and demand in a competitive international market. The limited availability of test rides， while frustrating for some， likely amplified the perceived exclusivity and desirability of the experience， creating a buzz that extends beyond the immediate participants.
