Uber, Lyft Plan UK Autonomous Taxi Trials With Baidu

Uber and Lyft said they will partner with China’s Baidu to launch driverless taxi trials in the United Kingdom in 2026, bringing Baidu’s autonomous vehicles onto the ride-hailing platforms’ London networks and reinforcing the UK’s role as a testing ground for commercial robotaxis. The companies said Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 vehicles will be integrated into their apps, marking the first time US and Chinese autonomous driving companies directly compete in a European capital.

The trials are expected to begin next year using Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis, which are already operating in several Chinese cities. The move follows Alphabet-owned Waymo’s launch of supervised autonomous driving tests in London, further concentrating global autonomous vehicle developers in the UK market.

The UK’s regulatory framework has played a central role in attracting these projects. The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 established clear rules on liability for self-driving vehicles, shifting legal responsibility for incidents from occupants to the “authorized self-driving entity.” Industry participants say this clarity sets the UK apart from the European Union, where regulations remain fragmented across member states.

A Baidu spokesperson said the company views the UK as a strategic entry point into Europe due to its regulatory environment and established mobility infrastructure. Uber and Lyft did not disclose fleet sizes or commercialization timelines, but said the trials will operate under existing UK approval and oversight processes.

The UK is also drawing domestic and international developers. London-based startup Wayve plans to launch driverless trials in 2026 using its “mapless” artificial intelligence system. Wayve has raised about US$1 billion in funding led by SoftBank Group, with participation from Uber. The company is already testing its technology on London streets, which it says present complex traffic patterns and road layouts.

The UK trials reflect a broader global expansion by autonomous driving companies. Baidu and WeRide have extended robotaxi operations to the Middle East and Switzerland, while cities such as Austin and San Francisco in the United States, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and Wuhan in China have emerged as hubs for commercial and pilot robotaxi services.

Despite this expansion, profitability remains uncertain. Publicly listed autonomous vehicle companies, including Pony.ai and WeRide, continue to report losses.