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Lyft, Baidu Partner for London Driverless Taxis
23 Oct
Summary
- Freenow and Apollo Go aim for a driverless robotaxi service in London by 2027.
- Testing of autonomous vehicles with safety drivers began in London during the summer.
- Robotaxis will not replace London's iconic black cabs, starting with tens of vehicles.
Lyft's Freenow and Baidu's Apollo Go have unveiled Baidu's RT6 autonomous vehicle in London. The companies announced plans to introduce a driverless robotaxi service in the city, with a commercial launch targeted for 2027.
Testing of these autonomous vehicles, equipped with safety drivers, commenced in London during the summer. The partners aim to deploy fully driverless vehicles in the city next year. This collaboration between San Francisco-based Lyft and China's Baidu signals a strategic focus on the European market.
Freenow UK general manager Danny O'Gorman highlighted London's challenging streets as an ideal testing ground for learning driving rules. The company is collaborating with Transport for London and anticipates regulatory guidelines soon. O'Gorman emphasized that the robotaxis are not intended to replace London's famous black cabs, with initial plans for tens of vehicles.
