Baidu has officially begun testing its autonomous vehicles on London’s streets, marking another significant milestone in the UK’s journey towards self-driving transport. The Chinese technology giant’s Apollo Go robotaxi started trials this week in partnership with Freenow by Lyft, adding further momentum to an increasingly competitive market that already includes Waymo and Wayve, which are both preparing autonomous taxi services for the capital. The launch underlines London’s growing importance as a proving ground for autonomous vehicle technology, with the city now attracting some of the world’s largest self-driving developers as the UK positions itself as a leader in connected and automated mobility. Testing began on Tuesday, 28 July, with Apollo Go’s sixth-generation RT6 autonomous vehicles operating in the London Borough of Brent. The vehicles are currently accompanied by trained safety operators while they collect data and adapt to one of the world’s most demanding urban driving environments. Public passenger services are expected to begin during 2027, subject to regulatory approval. Apollo Go has already accumulated millions of autonomous journeys across China, making Baidu one of the world’s largest commercial robotaxi operators. London represents one of its most significant international expansions to date. Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, stressed that the technology is intended to complement, rather than replace, professional drivers. “As a platform with deep roots in the taxi industry, our priority is ensuring that autonomous technology supports the professional drivers who keep London moving. “By integrating these purpose-built, autonomous vehicles from Baidu’s Apollo Go into the Freenow by Lyft ecosystem, we will give Londoners more sustainable choices to travel, encouraging them to choose shared mobility services over personally-owned vehicles.” Freenow said the autonomous vehicles will operate alongside its existing network of black cabs and private hire vehicles, creating a hybrid platform designed to improve vehicle availability and