Baidu has begun testing autonomous vehicles in London through a partnership with Lyft and Freenow, adding a new name to the city’s increasingly competitive robotaxi landscape. The move links the Chinese technology group with Lyft and the German taxi and multi-mobility app Freenow, which Lyft now owns.
The testing marks another step in the push to bring self-driving transport into major urban markets. London has become a key battleground for companies working on robotaxi services, with multiple groups using the city to trial autonomous driving technology.
For Baidu, the London program extends its ambitions in self-driving mobility beyond its home market. For Lyft and Freenow, the partnership gives them a role in the race to develop future taxi services built around autonomous vehicles.
While the testing phase is only an early stage, it highlights how quickly interest in robotaxi deployment is building in the UK capital. As more companies launch trials, London is emerging as an important proving ground for autonomous transport and next-generation ride-hailing services.
