Baidu said to be slashing jobs, trimming bonuses at intelligent driving unit
- A Baidu employee confirmed to the Post that the Chinese internet search giant is laying off workers at its Intelligent Driving Group (IDG)
- The alleged job cuts come days after company co-founder and CEO Robin Li Yanhong warned that the tech giant needs to sharpen its focus on profits
Baidu is cutting jobs and cancelling bonuses for some employees in its autonomous driving unit as prospects for profits remain remote after years of investment, according to a report by a Chinese online media outlet.
The company’s Intelligent Driving Group (IDG) has notified an unspecified number of affected employees in the autonomous driving, connected road and efficient mobility (ACE) unit, Cailianshe reported on Tuesday.
Baidu declined to comment.
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A Baidu employee, who requested anonymity, confirmed to the Post that the Chinese internet search giant is laying off workers at IDG. A former Baidu employee said she had learned about the job cuts from ex-colleagues. Neither of them knew how many people were being laid off.
In China, employers are often reluctant to admit to job cuts impacting more than 20 people, which require the intervention of labour authorities by law. In some cases, hundreds or even thousands of people have been laid off in the name of business optimisation or performance-based adjustments.
The ACE unit, launched by Li in April 2020, was touted as Baidu’s solution for the future of transport.