Overview
- Baidu’s Apollo Go and Freenow by Lyft started on-road testing of Apollo Go’s sixth-generation RT6 vehicles in London on Tuesday with safety operators on board.
- Dozens of RT6 vehicles will operate in the borough of Brent to cover a mix of urban and suburban driving environments during initial trials.
- The companies say they plan to invite public riders in 2027 but have made clear that any launch requires regulatory sign-off and ongoing talks with Transport for London and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
- Under the partnership Baidu supplies the RT6 vehicles and self-driving software while Freenow by Lyft provides local operations and platform distribution and intends the robotaxis to work alongside human taxis and private-hire cars.
- The London tests build on Apollo Go’s recent Hong Kong Level 4 driverless trial permit and large global fleet metrics and arrive as rival firms such as Waymo and Uber/Wayve also expand robotaxi testing in the city.