Chinese robotaxis could arrive on London streets as soon as 2026 following announcements from ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft about partnerships with Baidu to trial autonomous vehicles.
The companies are seeking regulatory approval to begin testing driverless taxis in London. Baidu’s Apollo Go service already operates in multiple cities in China and has completed millions of rides without human drivers.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander was reported to describe the development as “another vote of confidence in our plans for self-driving vehicles”. She added on X, external, “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 confirmed in June that it would accelerate UK trials of autonomous vehicles. The government is moving to facilitate pilot schemes for small commercial autonomous buses and taxis in 2026. Uber stated on Monday that its partnership with Baidu would “accelerate Britain’s leadership in the future of mobility, bringing another safe and reliable travel option to Londoners next year.”
Lyft announced in August that it aims to introduce driverless taxis in the UK and Germany through a European collaboration with Baidu. The company already provides “autonomous rides” in Atlanta, where Uber operates a similar service via its Waymo partnership.
Lyft chief executive David Risher noted on X, external that London passengers would be “the first in the region to experience Baidu’s Apollo Go vehicles”. However, regulatory approval is still required. If approved, Lyft plans to begin with a fleet of dozens of Baidu Apollo Go cars next year, eventually expanding to hundreds.
Jack Stilgoe, professor of science and technology policy at University College London, warned that autonomous vehicles “can’t just scale up like other digital technologies”. He told the BBC there is “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.”
While self-driving vehicles are promoted for their potential to reduce errors, many remain concerned about safety. A YouGov poll in October found that almost 60% of UK respondents would not feel comfortable using a driverless taxi. In addition, 85% said they would choose a cab with a human driver if price and convenience were equal.
Problems with autonomous vehicles continue to make headlines, including incidents where cars have trapped passengers or caused traffic disruptions. Waymo reportedly paused its San Francisco service on Saturday after vehicles stopped functioning during a power outage.
Prof Stilgoe emphasised that safety, privacy, and congestion remain critical issues, suggesting that the UK could play a leading role in “setting standards for the technology”. He added, “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.”
