Uber and Lyft have announced plans to bring Chinese robotaxi technology to the UK, partnering with Baidu to trial the autonomous Apollo Go driverless taxis on London roads in 2026. The move represents a major step toward expanding self-driving vehicle services in Europe and testing the technology in one of the world’s busiest cities.

Baidu’s Apollo Go: From China to the UK

Baidu’s Apollo Go service has already been operating successfully in dozens of cities in China, Hong Kong, and Dubai, providing millions of rides without a human behind the wheel. The partnership with Uber and Lyft would mark the first time these vehicles are tested on UK streets.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the announcement as “another vote of confidence in our plans for self-driving vehicles.” She added, “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.”

Uber and Lyft’s Plans

Uber said in June that it would accelerate its plans for UK autonomous trials as the government developed frameworks to allow pilot projects for small autonomous commercial services in 2026. The company highlighted its goal to “bring another safe and reliable travel option to Londoners next year” through the Baidu partnership.

Similarly, Lyft announced in August its intention to deploy driverless taxis in the UK and Germany, leveraging Baidu’s technology. Lyft already operates autonomous rides in Atlanta, USA, where Uber also provides robotaxi services through its partnership with Waymo.

Lyft CEO David Risher stated that London passengers would be “the first in the region to experience Baidu’s Apollo Go vehicles.” If approved, Lyft plans to begin testing an initial fleet of dozens of vehicles in 2026, with ambitions to scale to hundreds in the following years.

Regulatory and Safety Challenges

Despite the excitement, both Uber and Lyft still need regulatory approval before beginning trials. Experts caution that scaling autonomous vehicles is not straightforward.

Professor Jack Stilgoe of University College London explained:
“There’s a big difference between having a few test vehicles using public streets as their laboratory and a fully-developed, scaled-up system that becomes a real transport option for people.”

Public Concerns Over Driverless Taxis

While autonomous taxis are often promoted as a safer alternative to human drivers, public skepticism remains high in the UK. A YouGov poll in October found that almost 60% of respondents would not feel comfortable riding in a driverless taxi, and 85% said they would choose a human-driven cab if cost and convenience were equal.

Safety incidents continue to make headlines. For example, Waymo suspended its San Francisco service recently after several vehicles stopped during a power outage. Concerns also include traffic congestion, passenger privacy, and the challenges of integrating driverless vehicles into dense urban environments.

Professor Stilgoe emphasized the importance of setting robust standards for autonomous vehicles in the UK, saying:
“London has been really successful at getting cars out of its city centre. When it comes to traffic, the only thing worse than a single-occupancy car is a zero-occupancy one.”

The Future of Autonomous Ride-Hailing in London

If trials proceed as planned, London could become a testing ground for next-generation autonomous taxis, positioning the city as a leader in self-driving vehicle adoption in Europe. Both Uber and Lyft hope the Baidu partnership will showcase how autonomous technology can provide safe, efficient, and innovative urban mobility solutions, while also helping regulators and the public adapt to this rapidly evolving industry.