Ride-sharing companies Uber and Lyft plan to launch self-driving cars in the British capital next year as a collaboration between the firms and the Chinese technology firm Baidu.
This will make Waymo’s self-driving project the only service currently operating.
A Joint Push Into Autonomous Rides
Uber is set to start a pilot project in London in the first half of 2026, using Baidu’s all-electric Apollo Go RT6 vehicles.
The company is expected to go fully commercial by the end of 2026.
This is in line with Uber deciding not to continue pursuing autonomous vehicles on its own in 2020 and selling that business unit to a new company called Aurora in a startup sale.
Uber is now working on partnerships to incorporate autonomous vehicles in their system.
Dozens of the same Baidu Apollo Go robotaxis will be introduced by Lyft, which already owns the European platform Freenow, in London in 2026.
This goes along with Lyft’s broader European expansion efforts. Baidu’s Apollo Go has already launched in several Chinese cities.
The RT6 model is intended to support full autonomy.
The Rivalry Intensifies in Autonomous Vehicles
This brings London to the forefront of robotaxi innovations in the European market.
Alphabet’s Waymo has already begun the testing of their driverless taxis in the city, learning the ways of the roads in preparation for the public transportation of passengers by the end of 2026.
This comes as other competitors, Uber and Lyft, join the bandwagon.
Currently, both companies speak of a no-carriage system.
The self-driving vehicles will be used in partnership with human operators to meet the demand and increase supply.
Regulatory Hurdles
All of the plans have to be approved by the authorities in the UK.
Each company has to abide by the Code of Practice established by the government when testing autonomous vehicles.
To carry out trials in the capital, the company has to coordinate with Transport for London from the outset to satisfy road safety standards.
A statement from Transport for London has highlighted that existing taxi regulations may need to be slightly modified for robot taxis.
However, nothing can be initiated without authorization, and small-scale pilots are set to commence from Spring 2026, once a company’s safety standards for their tech are met.
With such partnerships on the move, London is expected to benefit in terms of better mass transit in its urban centers.
Autonomous vehicles might reduce costs and pollution, though their success will depend on surmounting regulatory hurdles and winning public acceptance.
