London Set for Robotaxi Tests as Uber, Lyft Team Up With Baidu

Ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft have confirmed plans to test robotaxis in the UK capital, teaming up with China’s tech firm Baidu as early as next year, pending regulatory approval.

Both companies will use Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles, marking a rare moment when rivals move in parallel with the same technology partner.

Uber said its London pilot is expected to begin in the first half of 2026, under the UK government’s plan to allow trials of self-driving vehicles. In a post on X, the company wrote, “We’re excited to accelerate Britain’s leadership in the future of mobility, bringing another safe and reliable travel option to Londoners next year.”

Lyft, meanwhile, plans to start testing a smaller fleet first, with ambitions to expand quickly if approvals are granted. In a post on X, Lyft CEO David Risher said the company will begin with dozens of Baidu vehicles in London, before growing the fleet.

“We expect to start testing our initial fleet with dozens of vehicles next year — pending regulatory approval — through the Lyft and Freenow ecosystem, with plans to scale to hundreds from there,” Risher wrote on X.

Risher added that Baidu is “the world’s largest AV operator,” pointing to its experience running autonomous ride-hailing services across multiple cities. He also said Lyft is working closely with Transport for London and local communities as the tests move forward.

Baidu’s growing global push

Baidu’s Apollo Go unit brings significant experience to the partnership. The company has completed more than 17 million rides across 22 cities worldwide and operates in multiple international markets.

The company views the UK as a key step in its global expansion, particularly as European cities begin to open roads to autonomous vehicle testing.

In June, the UK government announced its intention to permit small-scale robotaxi pilots from spring 2026, positioning London at the center of growing global competition. US firm Waymo has also announced plans to test in the city, setting up a rare face-off between American and Chinese autonomous driving companies on European roads.

Also read: Pony.ai says its Gen-7 robotaxi fleet reached citywide breakeven in Guangzhou, underscoring how fast the commercial robotaxi model is maturing.
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