Hong Kong autonomous vehicle tests move up a gear with longer routes

Hong Kong’s transport authorities have given the green light for testing autonomous vehicles from the airport island to Sunny Bay and Tung Chung town centre on Lantau, marking the latest cross-district trial of driverless technology.The Transport Department said on Monday that the updated pilot licence – held by Baidu Apollo International – would support the city’s goal of applying driverless vehicles for cross-district use in a safe and orderly manner, as set out in the policy address and the transport strategy blueprint.“Since the launch of the North Lantau trial at the end of 2024, significant progress has been made in 2025, namely the simultaneous operation of multiple vehicles, passenger-carrying trials, expanded routes and increased vehicle speeds,” a department spokesman said.“The results of the trials fully demonstrated Hong Kong’s steady progress in promoting autonomous driving, laying a solid foundation for more extensive applications in the future.”Baidu Apollo International is running a number of autonomous vehicle trials in Hong Kong. Photo: HandoutThe approval extends the North Lantau trial routes to up to 43.2km. The authorities also increased the number of autonomous vehicles approved to operate simultaneously from 10 to 20 for the open road passenger-carrying trial on the airport island, and for the Tung Chung town centre trial from three to eight.