Chinese technology giant Baidu has begun testing autonomous vehicles on public roads in London, marking another significant step in the global race to commercialize robotaxis and intensifying competition among autonomous driving developers seeking an early foothold in Europe’s rapidly evolving mobility market.
The trials, which started on Tuesday with human safety operators behind the wheel, are being conducted through Baidu’s partnership with Lyft and Freenow, the German taxi and multi-mobility platform that Lyft acquired in 2025 for approximately $197 million.
The tests come nearly a year after the companies announced a strategic alliance to deploy Baidu’s purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis across major European cities via Lyft’s ride-hailing ecosystem. Once commercial operations receive regulatory approval, passengers will be able to book the autonomous vehicles through the Freenow platform.
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The move positions Baidu alongside a growing list of global autonomous driving companies racing to establish leadership in Europe, where regulators are gradually opening public roads to self-driving technologies under tightly controlled pilot programs.
London Emerges As Europe’s Robotaxi Battleground
London is increasingly becoming one of the world’s most competitive testing grounds for autonomous mobility, attracting major U.S., Chinese and European developers seeking to validate their technology before commercial launches.
In April, Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, began testing its vehicles with human safety operators on London’s streets.
Meanwhile, Uber and British autonomous driving startup Wayve have announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in the city later this year. Their initial deployment will also feature safety drivers before transitioning to fully driverless operations, subject to regulatory approval.
The arrival of Baidu adds another heavyweight competitor to what is rapidly becoming one of the industry’s most strategically important markets outside the United States and China.
Unlike earlier pilot programs focused primarily on technology validation, the latest initiatives are designed as precursors to commercial ride-hailing services.
Commercial Rollout Targeted For 2027
Baidu and Freenow by Lyft expect to begin offering public robotaxi rides in London in 2027, although the timeline remains contingent on regulatory approvals.
For now, dozens of Apollo Go vehicles will operate within the London borough of Brent as engineers collect driving data and validate the system under real-world urban conditions. The companies said they continue to work closely with Transport for London (TfL) and the UK’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) as the government develops a comprehensive regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles.
The United Kingdom formally opened applications in May for an autonomous vehicle pilot program that allows companies to operate self-driving vehicles under government supervision before wider commercial deployment. That measured approach mirrors regulatory strategies adopted in several advanced economies, where authorities are balancing innovation with public safety concerns following years of rapid advances in autonomous driving technology.
The London deployment represents another milestone in Baidu’s effort to transform its Apollo Go autonomous driving platform from a China-focused operation into a global mobility business.
Apollo Go has become one of the world’s largest commercial robotaxi operators, conducting millions of autonomous rides across multiple Chinese cities. The company has steadily refined its sixth-generation RT6 robotaxi, a purpose-built autonomous vehicle designed specifically for commercial ride-hailing rather than adapting conventional passenger cars.
Expanding into Europe enables Baidu to diversify beyond China’s domestic market while competing directly with Western autonomous driving companies on international roads.
For Lyft, the partnership significantly strengthens its autonomous vehicle strategy after years of lagging behind larger rival Uber in self-driving partnerships. The acquisition of Freenow provided Lyft with an established European customer base and regulatory presence, giving the U.S. ride-hailing company a platform to introduce autonomous mobility services across the continent.
Hybrid Model Aims To Ease Industry Concerns
Like several competitors, Freenow by Lyft plans to operate a hybrid transportation network in which autonomous vehicles coexist alongside conventional taxis and ride-hailing drivers.
The strategy marks a growing recognition that robotaxis are unlikely to replace human drivers overnight. Instead, operators increasingly envision mixed fleets that allow autonomous vehicles to handle certain routes while human drivers continue serving more complex journeys, peak-demand periods, or areas where autonomous systems remain limited.
“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,” Freenow by Lyft Chief Executive Thomas Zimmermann said.
The hybrid approach may also help ease concerns from taxi operators and labor groups, many of whom have expressed fears that widespread robotaxi deployment could threaten employment across the transportation sector.
Europe Becomes The Next Frontier
While the United States and China remain the global leaders in autonomous driving deployment, Europe is emerging as the industry’s next major battleground. Several factors make the region strategically attractive, including dense urban populations, advanced digital infrastructure and governments that are increasingly developing legal frameworks for autonomous vehicles.
Competition is also intensifying as companies seek first-mover advantages before large-scale commercial adoption begins.
Success in Europe could provide autonomous driving companies with valuable operational data, strengthen public confidence in the technology and establish early customer loyalty in one of the world’s largest urban mobility markets.
Thus, London represents more than a new testing location for Baidu. It is seen as a critical step in demonstrating that its autonomous driving technology can operate safely outside China under different traffic rules, road conditions and regulatory standards.