Chinese language robotaxis are as a consequence of be on the streets of London subsequent yr after the US ride-hailing firms Lyft and Uber introduced tie-ups with Beijing-based Baidu to deploy its self-driving know-how.
Lyft is the third agency to announce plans to introduce self-driving taxis to the UK capital subsequent yr, after Uber and Waymo, the primary operator of robotaxis within the US.
Its ride-hailing companies are the key rival to Uber’s within the US and Canada, and this yr Lyft expanded into Europe after buying the Freenow app in the summertime.
Whereas Uber had signed a deal to work with Baidu in the summertime in different world markets, it had not till now mentioned that the Chinese language tech firm’s Apollo Go automobiles have been deliberate for London. It had beforehand introduced its companies can be operated with self-driving know-how from the UK-US agency Wayve.
Lyft mentioned it deliberate to begin exams with dozens of self-driving Apollo Go automobiles in London in 2026.
Information that the Chinese language know-how firm might be the driving power behind London’s autonomous trials subsequent yr heightened issues in some quarters, after warnings that even regular electrical autos could possibly be used for spying functions.
Safety specialists warned that Chinese language know-how dominating the market might improve Britain’s vulnerability. Charles Parton, an affiliate fellow on the defence thinktank Rusi, mentioned the transfer posed further dangers to nationwide safety, from Beijing exploiting UK dependency on their know-how, to harvesting huge quantities of information, and doubtlessly even straight controlling the methods.
He mentioned: “The issue is the connectivity of those autos. If the Chinese language get a monopoly we’re in bother, and that is one other step to them doing this.
“In occasions of pressure or warfare they might flip issues off … you might be principally permitting them to show off, stall or crash all of the taxis in London, and trigger gridlock.”
Baidu’s Apollo Go is Asia’s chief in autonomous ride-hailing, working in 22 cities and offering about 250,000 absolutely driverless rides every week.
David Risher, the chief govt of Lyft, mentioned that Baidu’s RT6 electrical autos have been purpose-built for rideshare and “targeted on giving folks a dependable, high-comfort journey”.
He mentioned its imaginative and prescient for the UK was for a “hybrid community” of autonomous autos and human drivers “working collectively to serve London’s numerous transportation wants now and past – from late-night journeys residence to Heathrow rides, to early commutes throughout city, and every little thing in between”.
He mentioned the corporate was dedicated to working intently with Transport for London and native authorities “to make sure these autos improve London’s transportation ecosystem”.
Uber introduced its personal plans to make use of Baidu’s autonomous autos in London with a put up on X. It mentioned: “Testing is predicted to begin within the first half of 2026, below the UK’s frontier plan to start trials for self-driving autos. We’re excited to speed up Britain’s management in the way forward for mobility, bringing one other protected and dependable journey choice to Londoners subsequent yr.”
An Uber spokesperson confirmed the Baidu trials can be along with these with Wayve.
The race to convey robotaxis to London has been pushed by the UK authorities, which is seeking to go legal guidelines to swiftly open up Britain as a European frontrunner in driverless know-how.
The announcement by Waymo in October fuelled explicit curiosity, with the corporate’s robotaxis now nicely established in San Francisco and increasing to different US cities together with Austin, Texas.
A significant energy outage in San Francisco this weekend led to site visitors jams brought on by stationary Waymo autos, including contemporary issues to official scrutiny of the reliability of the know-how.
