Lyft and Baidu Start Supervised Robotaxi Tests in London

London has become the latest testing ground for robotaxis as Chinese tech giant Baidu starts rolling out its Apollo Go RT6 vehicles through a partnership with Lyft and its recently acquired Freenow app. The trials began this week with human safety operators behind the wheel, limited for now to the borough of Brent, and mark another step in efforts to bring driverless ride-hailing to European cities.

The move follows a strategic agreement struck last year between Lyft and Baidu to deploy thousands of the purpose-built Apollo Go vehicles across key European markets. Lyft bought Freenow for roughly 197 million dollars in 2025 to gain a larger foothold in Europe, where the German-based service already runs taxis and private hires in Britain and Germany. Baidu and the Lyft-owned platforms say they aim to open the service to public bookings next year, though that timeline hinges on regulatory approval from British authorities.

Dozens of the Chinese-made vehicles are involved in the current phase, operating under close supervision. Company statements emphasize safety protocols and gradual expansion, but the entry of a Beijing-linked firm into British streets raises familiar questions about foreign technology in critical transport systems. London already hosts testing from other players, including Waymo, which began trials with its Jaguar I-Pace models in April, and Uber, which is working with British startup Wayve on plans to launch a service this year with operators initially present.

The competition reflects a broader scramble among well-funded companies to secure first-mover advantage in robotaxi deployment. Baidu's Apollo platform has logged millions of miles in Chinese cities, yet bringing the same hardware and software to a dense European capital involves different traffic rules, weather patterns, and liability standards. Lyft executives have described the European push as a way to diversify beyond North America, where the company still trails Uber in ride volume.

Taxi drivers and private hire operators in London have voiced concerns over job displacement if fully autonomous fleets scale up. The city already struggles with congestion and licensing disputes, and adding fleets controlled by distant corporations adds another layer of complexity. Baidu's role draws particular attention because of its ties to the Chinese government and past scrutiny over data practices in other markets.

Public access remains months away at best. The companies have not detailed exact routes or pricing, and British regulators have yet to finalize rules for commercial driverless operations. Earlier announcements from Uber and Wayve suggest similar cautious rollouts, with safety drivers staying in place until further testing clears hurdles. Waymo's parallel effort in the same city underscores how multiple foreign and domestic players are betting on London as a proving ground.

For now, the tests proceed quietly within one borough while broader questions linger about infrastructure readiness, insurance frameworks, and long-term effects on traditional cab work. The partnership between an American ride-hailing company and a Chinese technology provider illustrates how global supply chains are shaping the future of urban transport, even as local officials weigh the trade-offs.