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Baidus Apollo Go to Test Autonomous Taxis in London with Lyft, Targeting Commercial Launch This Year
Baidu’s autonomous‑ride‑hailing arm, Apollo Go, will begin testing self‑driving taxis on London streets in the coming weeks, the company’s partner Lyft said on Wednesday. The move follows a similar announcement by British startup Wayve, which said it was ready to launch a robotaxi service with Uber in London as early as summer.
Lyft executive Jeremy Bird told AFP that the autonomous vehicles would be on London roads soon after they pass inspection and testing. Bird added that the company hopes to start commercial operations within the year. The vehicles will be managed by Lyft and marketed through its app, while Baidu will supply the cars and the underlying Apollo platform.
Baidu’s Apollo Go has already operated in 27 Chinese cities and in Dubai, and the company reported 3.4 million driverless rides in the final quarter of last year. Its fleet in Wuhan alone exceeds 500 autonomous vehicles. The new London tests will be the first commercial deployment of fully driverless taxis in Europe.
The UK’s Automated Vehicles Act, which came into force in May 2024, provides a legal framework for vehicles that can operate in two modes: user‑in‑charge and no‑user‑in‑charge. The exact rollout schedule in London will depend on the implementation of that framework and on approvals from local authorities.
Wayve’s approach differs from Baidu’s. The British company’s AI system relies on end‑to‑end deep learning from camera data rather than detailed maps, and its vehicles will initially operate with a human operator behind the wheel. Wayve said it could launch its robotaxi service with Uber in London as early as this summer.
Google parent Alphabet’s Waymo also plans to bring driverless vehicles to London by the end of 2026 after mapping the capital for several months. Waymo currently operates in eleven U.S. cities.
Lyft’s statement that fares will probably start out similar to those of human‑driven rides reflects the company’s intent to keep pricing competitive as it integrates the new autonomous fleet into its existing service.
The partnership between Baidu and Lyft is part of a broader push to bring autonomous ride‑hailing to European markets. According to reports, the collaboration will deploy Apollo Go vehicles in key cities such as London and Germany.
While autonomous taxis already operate in the United States and China, the London tests represent a significant milestone for the continent. The tests will provide data on how the vehicles perform in the city’s complex traffic, pedestrian‑dense streets, and varied weather conditions.
Regulators have expressed cautious optimism. The UK government’s automated‑vehicle framework aims to balance safety, innovation, and public confidence. The trials will be subject to rigorous safety assessments and public consultation.
Lyft’s role in managing the fleet and marketing the service through its app positions the company to leverage its existing user base in London. Baidu’s Apollo platform, which powers the vehicles, has been refined through millions of miles of testing in China.
The partnership also highlights the growing competition among global tech firms to establish a foothold in Europe’s autonomous‑vehicle market. By 2026, several companies—including Wayve, Uber, and Waymo—are expected to conduct trials in London.
At present, the exact dates for the first on‑road tests remain unannounced, but industry observers anticipate that the vehicles will appear on London streets within the next few weeks, pending regulatory clearance.
The outcome of these trials will influence future regulatory decisions, market entry strategies for other autonomous‑vehicle providers, and the broader trajectory of driverless mobility in the United Kingdom.
Lyft executive Jeremy Bird told AFP that the autonomous vehicles would be on London roads soon after they pass inspection and testing. Bird added that the company hopes to start commercial operations within the year. The vehicles will be managed by Lyft and marketed through its app, while Baidu will supply the cars and the underlying Apollo platform.
Baidu’s Apollo Go has already operated in 27 Chinese cities and in Dubai, and the company reported 3.4 million driverless rides in the final quarter of last year. Its fleet in Wuhan alone exceeds 500 autonomous vehicles. The new London tests will be the first commercial deployment of fully driverless taxis in Europe.
The UK’s Automated Vehicles Act, which came into force in May 2024, provides a legal framework for vehicles that can operate in two modes: user‑in‑charge and no‑user‑in‑charge. The exact rollout schedule in London will depend on the implementation of that framework and on approvals from local authorities.
Wayve’s approach differs from Baidu’s. The British company’s AI system relies on end‑to‑end deep learning from camera data rather than detailed maps, and its vehicles will initially operate with a human operator behind the wheel. Wayve said it could launch its robotaxi service with Uber in London as early as this summer.
Google parent Alphabet’s Waymo also plans to bring driverless vehicles to London by the end of 2026 after mapping the capital for several months. Waymo currently operates in eleven U.S. cities.
Lyft’s statement that fares will probably start out similar to those of human‑driven rides reflects the company’s intent to keep pricing competitive as it integrates the new autonomous fleet into its existing service.
The partnership between Baidu and Lyft is part of a broader push to bring autonomous ride‑hailing to European markets. According to reports, the collaboration will deploy Apollo Go vehicles in key cities such as London and Germany.
While autonomous taxis already operate in the United States and China, the London tests represent a significant milestone for the continent. The tests will provide data on how the vehicles perform in the city’s complex traffic, pedestrian‑dense streets, and varied weather conditions.
Regulators have expressed cautious optimism. The UK government’s automated‑vehicle framework aims to balance safety, innovation, and public confidence. The trials will be subject to rigorous safety assessments and public consultation.
Lyft’s role in managing the fleet and marketing the service through its app positions the company to leverage its existing user base in London. Baidu’s Apollo platform, which powers the vehicles, has been refined through millions of miles of testing in China.
The partnership also highlights the growing competition among global tech firms to establish a foothold in Europe’s autonomous‑vehicle market. By 2026, several companies—including Wayve, Uber, and Waymo—are expected to conduct trials in London.
At present, the exact dates for the first on‑road tests remain unannounced, but industry observers anticipate that the vehicles will appear on London streets within the next few weeks, pending regulatory clearance.
The outcome of these trials will influence future regulatory decisions, market entry strategies for other autonomous‑vehicle providers, and the broader trajectory of driverless mobility in the United Kingdom.
