Overview
- Baidu’s Apollo Go and Freenow by Lyft began on‑road testing Tuesday, July 28, 2026, deploying dozens of sixth‑generation RT6 robotaxis in the London borough of Brent with safety operators on board.
- The vehicles will run a mix of urban and suburban routes inside Brent while companies continue technical checks and operational tuning before any paid rides are offered.
- Both firms say they expect to invite the public to hail robotaxis in 2027 but stress that a commercial launch is conditional on formal approvals from Transport for London and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
- Freenow plans to operate the RT6s inside a hybrid network alongside its taxi and private‑hire fleet to support professional drivers and aim for faster pickup times and wider coverage for riders.
- The London tests build on a 2025 Baidu‑Lyft partnership and recent overseas milestones such as Apollo Go’s Hong Kong Level‑4 driverless trial, and they put London in direct competition with other robotaxi efforts from Waymo and Uber/Wayve.