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Baidu Robotaxis Hit London Streets
28 Jul
Summary
- Baidu is testing autonomous vehicles in London with Lyft and Freenow.
- Public robotaxi service launch is anticipated in 2027, pending approval.
- Test vehicles will operate in London's Brent borough initially.
Chinese tech giant Baidu has commenced testing its autonomous vehicles in London, marking a significant step in its partnership with Lyft and Freenow. This initiative places London at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology development ahead of commercial robotaxi deployments.
The testing began recently with safety operators onboard. This follows a strategic alliance formed nearly a year ago to deploy Baidu's Apollo Go RT6 robotaxi across key European markets via the Lyft platform. Freenow, acquired by Lyft in 2025, will eventually offer these services.
London is emerging as a crucial testing ground for self-driving technology, with other companies like Waymo and the Uber-Wayve partnership also conducting trials. Baidu and Freenow by Lyft aim to open their robotaxi service to the public in 2027, subject to regulatory clearance.
Currently, dozens of test vehicles are operational in London's Brent borough. Discussions are ongoing with Transport for London and other relevant authorities. The UK government is actively developing regulations for autonomous vehicles and has initiated a pilot program for testing.
Upon launch, the Freenow by Lyft service will operate a hybrid model, combining human-driven taxis with autonomous vehicles. This approach aims to support professional drivers while integrating new technology.
