Robotaxis Hit London: Uber and Lyft Partner with Baidu

Uber and Lyft have announced separate partnerships with Chinese technology group Baidu to launch robotaxi pilot programs in London in the first half of 2026. The initiatives mark a major step toward large-scale autonomous ride-hailing in Europe, using Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 electric vehicles.

Rollout strategies

Both pilots are expected to operate under close regulatory oversight and will be among the most advanced autonomous mobility trials ever conducted in London.

Uber’s program will run under a UK government-supported framework for testing driverless vehicles. The company plans to gradually integrate robotaxis into its existing app, starting with safety-supervised trips and progressing to fully autonomous rides once regulatory milestones are met.

Uber’s agreement also builds on its July 2025 partnership with Baidu to deploy Apollo Go technology in multiple markets, combining Uber’s demand forecasting and routing capabilities with Baidu’s autonomous fleet management.

Lyft’s approach is tied to its expansion in Europe following the FreeNow acquisition. The company will initially deploy a limited fleet in London, then scale to hundreds of vehicles as approvals are granted.

Inside the Apollo Go RT6

Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 is a fully electric SUV designed from the ground up for autonomous use. It combines AI-powered perception systems and high-definition mapping.

One of its most distinctive elements is a removable steering wheel, which enables transitions between human-supervised and fully autonomous modes.

Photo by P. L. on Unsplash