Chinese self-driving cars hit UK streets
Chinese tech giant Baidu has started testing autonomous vehicles in London as part of its partnership with Lyft and Freenow, the German taxi and multi-mobility app that Lyft now owns. Baidu is the latest in a string of companies to test self-driving technology in the UK ahead of commercial robotaxi deployments.
The testing, which began Tuesday with human safety operators, comes nearly a year after the two companies struck a strategic partnership to deploy Baidu's purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxi across key European markets through the Lyft platform.
London: a robotaxi battleground
The vehicles will eventually be available through Freenow, which Lyft acquired in 2025 for about $197 million. That deal gave Lyft a foothold in Europe's ride-hailing market, where a handful of well-funded companies are now jockeying to be first to market with robotaxis.
London is particularly shaping up to be a key battleground. In April, Waymo began testing its autonomous vehicles with human safety operators in the city. Uber and its self-driving tech partner, Wayve, also announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in London this year.
Timeline and regulatory path
Baidu and Freenow by Lyft said they expect to invite the public to hail their robotaxis in 2027, depending on regulatory approval. For now, dozens of test vehicles will operate within London's borough of Brent. The companies continue discussions with Transport for London (TfL) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV).
The UK government is in the process of creating autonomous vehicle regulations and opened applications in May for companies interested in an AV pilot program that lets companies test self-driving vehicles under government oversight.
A hybrid network approach
When the service does launch, Freenow by Lyft said it will operate a hybrid network — using the same language rival Uber has used — meaning human drivers operating taxis will work alongside the robotaxis.
"As a platform with deep roots in the taxi industry, our priority is ensuring that autonomous technology supports the professional drivers who keep London moving," said Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft.
