Chinese-made robotaxis could be operating on UK roads as early as 2026 after ride-hailing firms Uber and Lyft announced partnerships with Baidu to trial the technology.
Both companies are seeking regulatory approval to test autonomous vehicles in London, marking a significant step towards introducing driverless ride-sharing services in the capital.
Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service already runs in dozens of cities — largely across China — and has completed millions of passenger journeys without a human driver at the wheel.
The UK transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, described the announcement as “another vote of confidence in our plans for self-driving vehicles,” although concerns remain about safety and regulation.
“We’re planning for self-driving cars to carry passengers for the first time from spring, under our pilot scheme — harnessing this technology safely and responsibly to transform travel,” Alexander said in a post on X.
Uber said in June that it was bringing forward its plans to trial driverless cars in the UK, as the government moves to fast-track a regulatory framework allowing pilot schemes for small, autonomous bus- and taxi-style services from 2026.
“We’re excited to accelerate Britain’s leadership in the future of mobility, bringing another safe and reliable travel option to Londoners next year,” Uber said on Monday, referring to its partnership with Baidu.
Lyft, meanwhile, said in August it would look to roll out driverless taxis in the UK and Germany under a wider European agreement with Baidu. The company already offers limited “autonomous rides” in Atlanta in the US, where Uber also operates a robotaxi service through its partnership with Waymo.
Lyft chief executive David Risher said on X that London passengers would be “the first in the region to experience Baidu’s Apollo Go vehicles”.
However, both firms still face regulatory hurdles. Risher said that if approval is granted, Lyft would initially deploy a fleet of several dozen Apollo Go vehicles next year, with plans to expand to hundreds over time.
Despite the optimism, experts have urged caution. Jack Stilgoe, professor of science and technology policy at University College London, warned that driverless cars “can’t just scale up like other digital technologies,” highlighting the challenges that still lie ahead.
