The robotaxi wars just got crowded in London. According to TechCrunch, Chinese autonomous-vehicle giant Baidu has begun testing its purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis on London streets this week, partnering with Lyft's European mobility platform Freenow.
London is rapidly becoming the epicenter of Europe's self-driving race. Waymo started testing in April. Uber and its partner Wayve are already recruiting early adopters for a 2026 launch. Now Baidu enters the arena. Whoever cracks London first gains credibility and market share across the continent.
Baidu and Freenow are eyeing public robotaxi hails by 2027, pending regulatory approval. But they're not ditching human drivers. Both Baidu and Uber are deploying a "hybrid network" where traditional cabbies work alongside robots. In a city where taxi unions wield real influence and regulators are watching closely for worker protection, this is a pragmatic move.
Lyft's $197 million acquisition of Freenow in 2025 was a backdoor into European markets where the company had no presence. By partnering with Baidu, Lyft gains cutting-edge autonomous tech without building it in-house. Baidu gains access to European infrastructure and regulatory relationships it would take years to develop alone.
Testing dozens of vehicles in London's Brent borough is just the opening move. The real battle will unfold in 2027 when regulators approve commercial launches. Transport for London and the UK's Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles are still writing the rulebook. Whoever navigates that bureaucracy fastest while keeping London's taxi workers and politicians satisfied wins.
The three-way race between Waymo, Uber-Wayve, and Baidu-Lyft is underway. London residents are about to become the first real-world testers for the future of urban mobility.
