Baidu’s fleet will operate under the Apollo Go brand but will be booked and paid for through the Uber and Lyft applications. While neither company disclosed financial terms, both characterized the partnerships as non-exclusive and framed them as a way to broaden mobility options in one of the world’s busiest ride-hailing markets. London accounts for millions of annual trips on the two platforms and is viewed by industry analysts as a key proving ground for robotaxis because of its dense traffic patterns, complex road layouts and stringent safety standards.
Baidu currently reports autonomous operations in 22 cities, with more than 250,000 passenger trips conducted each week. Recent overseas trials include deployments in the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland. The company is vying for international market share alongside Chinese peers such as WeRide and Western competitors led by Waymo, the autonomous-driving division of Alphabet. Waymo has disclosed plans to test in London and aims for a full service launch in 2026, adding the U.K. capital to a pipeline that already covers at least 26 metropolitan areas worldwide, including New York City and Tokyo.
The U.K. government’s roadmap for self-driving legislation seeks to position the country as a leader in autonomous mobility. A consultation conducted by the Department for Transport highlighted the potential of driverless technology to support economic growth, reduce emissions and enhance road safety. A summary of the policy framework can be found on the department’s website (gov.uk).
Under the forthcoming regulatory regime, each autonomous vehicle must obtain a safety case approved by the country’s Vehicle Certification Agency. Additional oversight will come from Transport for London, which manages taxi and private-hire licensing in the city. Officials have signaled that early commercial pilots will be limited in geographic scope and fleet size, allowing regulators to gather data before authorizing broader deployments. Baidu, Uber and Lyft have all stated that compliance with local requirements will dictate rollout speed and scale.
Industry observers note that partnerships between autonomous-vehicle developers and established ride-share networks can reduce barriers to entry by leveraging existing rider bases, payment systems and brand recognition. For Uber and Lyft, robotaxis present an opportunity to cut operating costs linked to human drivers; for Baidu, they provide a distribution channel outside its domestic market without the need to build a proprietary customer-facing app in each country.
Specific details about the London fleet—such as the number of seats, sensor configurations and planned service zones—have not yet been released. Previous iterations of the Apollo RT6, Baidu’s latest model, feature a detachable steering wheel, lidar units on the roof and in-cabin screens for passenger interaction. The vehicle is designed for Level 4 autonomy, meaning it can operate without human input within designated areas.
The entry of robotaxis to London streets will add to an increasingly competitive landscape. In addition to Waymo’s plans, several smaller firms have conducted limited autonomous shuttles or last-mile delivery pilots in the city’s suburbs. Insurance requirements, data privacy rules and public acceptance remain challenges for large-scale adoption, but industry executives view the 2026 target as a realistic milestone for initial commercial service.
As London prepares for these trials, attention will center on how efficiently the technology integrates with the city’s public transport network and whether early services can meet the stringent safety benchmarks set by regulators. The performance of Baidu’s vehicles—and the operational strategies of Uber and Lyft—are likely to influence subsequent regulatory decisions and public sentiment toward driverless mobility across the United Kingdom.
Crédito da imagem: Bloomberg
