Baidu's robotaxis hit London streets in major European push

Baidu is making its European ambitions official. The Chinese tech giant has begun testing its Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis in London, partnering with ride-sharing company Lyft and taxi operator Freenow to bring autonomous vehicles to one of the world’s busiest cities.

The move marks a significant milestone in the global race to commercialize self-driving vehicles. Starting with test drivers aboard, dozens of Baidu’s vehicles will operate in London’s Brent borough as part of an extended trial program. The real action begins next year when Lyft and Freenow open up passenger bookings, though full public access likely won’t happen until 2027 at the earliest, pending regulatory approval from Transport for London (TfL) and the UK government.

A calculated European strategy

This isn’t just about testing one city. Lyft’s acquisition of Freenow last year was specifically designed to unlock this opportunity. Freenow operates an established taxi network across the UK and Germany, giving Baidu immediate infrastructure to build upon. The partnership signals that autonomous vehicle companies now understand they need local expertise and regulatory relationships to succeed in new markets.

The robotaxi service in London will be branded as “Freenow by Lyft,” blending the operational strengths of all three companies. It’s a smart play: Baidu handles the technology, Lyft manages the platform, and Freenow provides the established network and local knowledge. This collaborative approach might actually be what it takes to navigate Europe’s famously strict regulatory environment.

The London autonomous race heats up

Barangay, Baidu isn’t alone in London anymore. Waymo began testing its Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in the city earlier this year with safety operators aboard. Uber and Wayve are also gearing up, already accepting sign-ups for trials launching this year. The competition is real, and it’s accelerating.

What makes London such an attractive testing ground? The city has genuine traffic complexity, established regulatory frameworks willing to experiment, and a population that’s generally tech-forward. The UK government’s recent robotaxi pilot program signals clear governmental support for autonomous innovation. This creates the perfect environment for companies to gather real-world data while working through the inevitable regulatory hurdles.

Regulatory uncertainty remains the wildcard

Here’s where things get tricky. While the UK government is drafting autonomous vehicle rules and has shown genuine enthusiasm, the timeline for actual deployment depends entirely on regulatory approval. Public interest lists are one thing. Getting thousands of vehicles legally operating across European cities is another entirely.

The 2027 timeline for public ride reservations feels ambitious, though not impossible. It gives regulators time to observe how these trials perform, gives the companies room to refine their systems, and gives the public time to adjust psychologically to the idea of robotaxis.

What this means for the future

Successfully deploying autonomous vehicles in London could serve as a template for other European cities. Germany, where Freenow already operates, becomes an obvious next target. If Baidu can crack the regulatory and operational challenges in the UK, scaling across Europe becomes far more feasible.

The real question isn’t whether autonomous vehicles will eventually operate in cities like London. It’s which companies will dominate that market and how quickly they can get there. Baidu’s early entry, combined with smart partnerships, puts it in a strong position. But Waymo’s proven track record and Uber’s market dominance mean this competition is far from decided.

What becomes clear is that autonomous vehicle deployment is moving from theoretical to practical. The next five years will determine which companies crack the code and which ones fall behind in one of tech’s most transformative races.

Source: Original reporting

Will the first profitable robotaxi service be Chinese, American, or European?