Several major autonomous vehicle players are setting their sights on London as Baidu’s Apollo Go announces partnerships with both Uber and Lyft for robotaxi trials in the UK. The Chinese tech giant plans to deploy its all-electric RT6 vehicles for simultaneous trials with both ride-hailing companies, starting in the first half of 2026.
The move represents the first direct competition between American and Chinese autonomous giants in a European capital. Baidu enters the UK market with impressive credentials, having completed 17 million shared rides and accumulated over 240 million kilometers of autonomous driving experience globally, with more than 140 million kilometers in fully driverless mode.
Uber’s pilot program is expected to launch commercial services by the end of 2026, while Lyft plans to start with dozens of vehicles and eventually scale to hundreds. Lyft’s recent acquisition of FreeNow for $197 million, finalized on July 31, 2025, provides the company with immediate access to taxi licenses in London and infrastructure across nine European countries.
The UK’s regulatory environment has created favorable conditions for these trials. The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 established a legal liability framework for autonomous deployment, with updated secondary legislation enabling commercial pilots. The initial fleet will consist of 50 Apollo Go RT6 vehicles when deployment begins. Starting Spring 2026, the government will accept applications for “no-user-in-charge” commercial operations.
Baidu’s UK expansion comes amid expected US restrictions on Chinese self-driving systems post-2027. The company is already conducting trials in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Switzerland as part of its global expansion strategy. The partnership was formally announced on social media by both Uber and Lyft, emphasizing their commitment to enhancing transportation options for Londoners.
Meanwhile, competitors like Waymo are beginning supervised tests in London this month, and Pony AI is partnering with Bolt for European integration. Despite the industry’s growth, the financial sustainability of the robotaxi sector remains a concern as companies like Pony AI and Weride continue to operate at a loss.
For Uber, which abandoned its in-house autonomous development in 2020, the Baidu partnership aligns with its CEO’s goal of offering driverless services in more than 10 markets by next year’s end. The UK’s clear regulatory framework makes it an attractive test bed compared to the more fragmented approach across the EU, positioning London at the forefront of robotaxi commercialization in Europe.
