Baidu begins autonomous vehicle testing on London streets

Baidu has begun testing its Apollo Go autonomous vehicles on public roads in London, a development widely reported across UK national news outlets as a significant step in the country’s progress towards commercial self‑driving transport. The Chinese technology company launched trials of its sixth‑generation RT6 robotaxi this week in partnership with Freenow by Lyft, adding new momentum to an increasingly competitive market preparing for autonomous taxi services in the capital.

The initial phase of testing is under way in the borough of Brent, where Apollo Go vehicles are operating with on‑board safety operators in mixed traffic conditions. The deployment forms part of Baidu’s broader European strategy with Lyft, which acquired Freenow in 2025 to accelerate robotaxi integration into its mobility network. Freenow is expected to manage passenger bookings once public trials begin, subject to regulatory approval.

Baidu’s arrival places it alongside Waymo and UK‑based Wayve, both of which are advancing their own autonomous taxi programmes in London. Waymo has already begun testing its Jaguar I‑Pace robotaxis in the city, while Wayve continues to scale its AI‑driven autonomous systems ahead of commercial deployment. Together, the three operators are positioning London as one of Europe’s most active testbeds for self‑driving passenger services.

Senior figures from Baidu and Freenow by Lyft described the London launch as a major milestone. Baidu vice‑president Nan Yang said operating in “one of the world’s most complex urban environments” demonstrates the maturity of Apollo Go’s technology, which has already completed millions of driverless rides in China. Freenow CEO Thomas Zimmermann said autonomous vehicles would complement, rather than replace, existing taxi and private‑hire services, offering Londoners additional sustainable transport options.

The trials align with the UK government’s wider autonomous vehicle agenda, with Transport for London and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles continuing to support controlled deployments under emerging regulatory frameworks. The Institute of Licensing recently highlighted the opening of applications for automated passenger services, signalling growing regulatory readiness for commercial robotaxi operations.

With Baidu joining Waymo and Wayve on London’s roads — and with the development prominently covered by broadcasters and national newspapers — the capital is rapidly becoming a focal point for the next phase of autonomous mobility in Europe.