Chinese technology company Baidu has commenced testing autonomous vehicles in London, collaborating with Lyft and its German taxi and multi-mobility app, Freenow. The testing, which began on Tuesday, involves human safety operators.
This move follows a strategic partnership formed nearly a year ago between Baidu and Lyft to deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis across key European markets via the Lyft platform. Lyft acquired Freenow in 2025 for approximately $197 million, giving it a presence in Europe's ride-hailing sector.
Dozens of test vehicles are currently operating within the London borough of Brent. Baidu and Freenow by Lyft anticipate inviting the public to use their robotaxis in 2027, pending regulatory approval. The companies are in discussions with safety and city officials, including Transport for London (TfL) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV).
London is emerging as a significant location for autonomous vehicle development, with Waymo also having started testing in April, and Uber and Wayve announcing plans for a robotaxi service this year. Freenow by Lyft plans to operate a hybrid network, integrating human drivers alongside robotaxis, a strategy also adopted by rival Uber.