Baidu and Lyft Initiate Autonomous Robotaxi Trials in London
London’s streets are now the latest arena in the worldwide race for autonomous vehicle supremacy. Chinese technology powerhouse, Baidu, officially commenced trials of its self-driving Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis on July 28, 2026. This initiative is a collaboration with ride-hailing giant, Lyft, and its recently acquired European application, Freenow.
The trials are currently underway in London’s Borough of Brent, featuring dozens of Baidu’s sixth-generation RT6 vehicles. Each vehicle is supervised by a human safety operator for the time being. The partners plan to launch the eventual public service as Freenow by Lyft in 2027, subject to approval from Transport for London (TfL) and UK regulators.
However, Baidu is not the only player in this race. Waymo (owned by Alphabet) has been conducting safety-driver tests in London since April 2026. Uber has also joined forces with autonomous driving startup, Wayve, to launch a robotaxi service later this year. Lyft’s acquisition of Freenow in 2025 for approximately $197 million was a strategic move to gain a foothold in Europe’s ride-hailing market. Globally, Baidu’s Apollo Go has already clocked 22 million cumulative rides and over 330 million autonomous kilometers as of mid-2026.
Source: TechCrunch — July 28, 2026