Chinese language robotaxis are resulting from 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 foremost 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 stated that the Chinese language tech firm’s Apollo Go automobiles had 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 stated it deliberate to start out assessments 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 considerations in some quarters, after warnings that even regular electrical automobiles might be used for spying functions.
Safety specialists warned that Chinese language know-how dominating the market might enhance Britain’s vulnerability. Charles Parton, an affiliate fellow on the defence thinktank Rusi, stated 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 instantly controlling the techniques.
He stated: “The issue is the connectivity of those automobiles. If the Chinese language get a monopoly we’re in hassle, and that is one other step to them doing this.
“In instances 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 totally driverless rides per week.
David Risher, the chief government of Lyft, stated that Baidu’s RT6 electrical automobiles had been purpose-built for rideshare and “targeted on giving individuals a dependable, high-comfort trip”.
He stated its imaginative and prescient for the UK was for a “hybrid community” of autonomous automobiles and human drivers “working collectively to serve London’s various transportation wants now and past – from late-night journeys dwelling to Heathrow rides, to early commutes throughout city, and every part in between”.
He stated the corporate was dedicated to working intently with Transport for London and native authorities “to make sure these automobiles improve London’s transportation ecosystem”.
Uber introduced its personal plans to make use of Baidu’s autonomous automobiles in London with a submit on X. It stated: “Testing is anticipated to start out within the first half of 2026, underneath the UK’s frontier plan to start trials for self-driving automobiles. 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 trying to move legal guidelines to swiftly open up Britain as a European frontrunner in driverless know-how.
The announcement by Waymo in October fuelled specific curiosity, with the corporate’s robotaxis now properly 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 visitors jams attributable to stationary Waymo automobiles, including contemporary considerations to official scrutiny of the reliability of the know-how.
