Baidu, Inc. announced that the record date to determine eligibility for voting and attending its forthcoming extraordinary general meeting is the close of business on Friday, July 17, 2026. Shareholders holding ordinary shares registered by this date will be entitled to participate in the proceedings. The announcement establishes the timeline for shareholder participation ahead of the meeting's formal notice.

To qualify for voting and attendance, valid transfer documents and share certificates must be lodged with the company's Hong Kong branch share registrar and transfer office, Computershare Hong Kong Investor Services Limited. The deadline for submission is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, Beijing/Hong Kong time. Only registered holders of ordinary shares on the record date will have voting rights.

Holders of American depositary shares (ADSs) are not permitted to attend or vote directly at the meeting. Instead, ADS holders as of the close of business on Friday, July 17, 2026, New York time, may instruct The Bank of New York Mellon, the depositary, on how to vote the underlying ordinary shares. The Bank of New York Mellon will vote these shares in accordance with valid instructions received, subject to legal and practical limitations.

Due to time zone differences between Hong Kong and New York, ADS holders who cancel their ADSs in exchange for ordinary shares on Friday, July 17, 2026, New York time, will lose the ability to instruct the depositary. Furthermore, such holders will not be registered as ordinary shareholders on the record date and will be ineligible to vote or attend the meeting.

Specific details regarding the date and location of the extraordinary general meeting will be outlined in the notice of the meeting. This notice, along with proxy materials, will be issued to ordinary shareholders and ADS holders in due course.

Key Dates and Requirements

AmiGo, an on-demand autonomous mobility service developed through a partnership between Baidu's Apollo Go and Swiss Post's PostBus, has received a special operating permit from Switzerland's Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) for Level 4 autonomous operations in Eastern Switzerland. The permit confirms that AmiGo's vehicles and autonomous driving system meet Switzerland's safety and quality requirements, marking a significant step in Apollo Go's European expansion. Open-road autonomous driving trials began on June 1, 2026, across an approximately 80 km² service area in the cantons of St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, and Appenzell Innerrhoden.

Regulatory Approval and Operational Milestones

The FEDRO special permit provides the regulatory framework for the trial, with clear requirements and defined responsibilities. Jürg Röthlisberger, Director of FEDRO, stated that the trial represents a new dimension in automated driving, featuring multiple vehicles, a real service area, and a concrete public transport offering. The current trials involve a safety operator on board. Provided all safety and regulatory requirements are met, regular fully driverless operations are expected to launch in early 2027.

Technology and Service Integration

AmiGo combines Apollo Go's RT6 vehicles and autonomous driving expertise with PostBus's knowledge of Swiss public transport operations. The service complements the existing public transport network, particularly in areas where conventional services reach their limits. The RT6 vehicles are fully electric, carry up to three passengers, and are equipped with over 30 sensors for environmental perception and real-time data processing. The steering wheel is designed to be removed once the service transitions to fully autonomous operations.

Apollo Go's Global Performance

Apollo Go reported significant operational metrics in the first quarter of 2026, delivering 3.2 million fully driverless rides with weekly rides peaking at over 350,000 in March, representing 120% year-over-year growth. As of April 2026, cumulative rides provided to the public exceeded 22 million. Apollo Go's global footprint spans 27 cities, with fleets accumulating over 330 million autonomous kilometers as of May, including over 220 million fully driverless kilometers.

Strategic Outlook

Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group, highlighted the permit as a validation of the company's technology under Switzerland's rigorous safety framework. Stefan Regli, CEO of PostBus, emphasized that the special permit demonstrates the ability to implement operations step by step under defined safety requirements. The next phase involves a closed-group user trial, followed by initial rides without safety operators once safety evidence is fully provided.