LONDON (Business Emerge): Uber and Lyft have confirmed plans to introduce autonomous taxi trials in the United Kingdom through separate partnerships with Chinese technology company Baidu, marking a significant step toward commercial driverless transport in the country.
The initiative will see Baidu’s autonomous vehicle platform integrated into ride-hailing services operated by Uber and Lyft within London. The companies stated that the trials are scheduled to begin in 2026 and will involve Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 vehicles operating on approved routes within the city.
Under the arrangement, Baidu’s vehicles will be deployed on the London networks of both platforms, placing United States based ride-hailing operators alongside a Chinese autonomous technology provider in the same European capital. The development follows the start of supervised autonomous driving tests by other international companies in London earlier this year.
The UK framework supporting the trials is based on the Automated Vehicles Act 2024. The legislation establishes a legal structure that assigns responsibility for driving related incidents to an authorized self-driving entity rather than to individuals inside the vehicle. This model differs from approaches in other European jurisdictions, where rules governing autonomous driving remain fragmented.
In addition to Uber and Lyft’s plans, London based autonomous driving company Wayve is preparing for its own driverless trials in 2026. Wayve has received investment totaling approximately $1 billion from a group led by SoftBank Group, with Uber also participating. The company is testing artificial intelligence systems designed to operate without pre-mapped road data on London streets.
Data from the companies involved indicates that the Apollo Go RT6 model has been used in several cities outside Europe. Baidu has expanded autonomous operations in parts of the Middle East and Switzerland, while other firms such as WeRide have also increased international deployments. Several global cities, including Austin, San Francisco, Abu Dhabi, and Wuhan, currently host active robotaxi services.
Financial disclosures from publicly listed autonomous driving companies show that many operators remain unprofitable. Companies including Pony.ai and WeRide have reported continued operating losses, reflecting the high costs associated with vehicle development, fleet maintenance, and regulatory compliance. Ride-hailing platforms integrating autonomous vehicles are managing expenses linked to dual operations.
Within the UK market, the trials form part of broader expansion strategies. Lyft’s participation follows its acquisition of European taxi application FreeNow for $200 million earlier this year. The company has identified the UK as a key entry point for extending services beyond North America.
Industry data suggests that companies are currently operating mixed networks that combine autonomous vehicles with human driven cars. This structure allows platforms to maintain service coverage during peak demand periods while continuing to test driverless technology within defined zones.
The UK government has positioned the country as an environment for testing automated transport by providing regulatory clarity for commercial use. The presence of multiple international operators in London reflects growing interest in the market as a site for early deployment.
Based on existing timelines announced by the companies, vehicle testing, safety assessments, and regulatory approvals are expected to continue through 2025. Public road trials involving paying passengers are scheduled to begin in 2026 once operational requirements are met.
