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Freenow and Apollo Go launch London robotaxi trial. Freenow by Lyft and Baidu's autonomous driving unit Apollo Go have launched road tests of robotaxis in London. The trials mark the first concrete step in implementing the commercial robotaxi partnership the two companies announced for Europe in 2025. By Florian Treiss 29.07.2026 - 15:48 The first road tests will take place in the London borough of Brent, where Apollo Go will deploy its sixth-generation RT6 robotaxis. The vehicles will initially operate on urban and suburban routes with safety drivers on board, paving the way for a planned commercial passenger service from 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The initiative stems from a strategic partnership agreed last year to integrate Apollo Go's autonomous driving technology into Freenow by Lyft's platform across key European markets. While Apollo Go provides the technological foundation and the RT6 vehicles - specifically designed for ride-hailing - Freenow contributes its local market expertise and operational capabilities. The project in the British capital benefits directly from recent test successes in Hong Kong, where Apollo Go received the first driverless test permit for right-hand-drive markets in July 2026. "The arrival of Apollo Go vehicles in London marks a defining milestone in our global expansion," said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group. "Testing our autonomous fleet in one of the world's most iconic and complex urban environments validates our technology's maturity and our commitment to this market." According to Baidu, the partnership combines AI-powered autonomous driving with local platform expertise to support the rollout. In the UK, Apollo Go's autonomous vehicles are set to operate alongside conventional taxis and private hire vehicles within the Freenow platform. The partners say this hybrid approach is intended to reduce waiting times and improve efficiency. According to a Censuswide survey commissioned by the companies, 58% of Londoners would be willing to try a robotaxi, rising to almost two-thirds among respondents under the age of 35. Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, emphasised the integration into the existing industry: "As a platform with deep roots in the taxi industry, our priority is ensuring that autonomous technology supports the professional drivers who keep London moving. By integrating these purpose-built, autonomous vehicles from Baidu's Apollo Go into the Freenow by Lyft ecosystem, we will give Londoners more sustainable choices to travel." The goal is to accelerate the shift towards shared mobility solutions. Competitors poised to enter the market. In addition to Freenow by Lyft, several other companies have announced plans to launch robotaxi services in London and the UK in recent months, including Waymo, Uber, and Wayve. The UK has now established the legal framework, allowing operators to apply for the necessary operating licences since May. Earlier this year, Freenow by Lyft announced plans to launch robotaxis in the German city of Hamburg, although it did not identify Apollo Go as its partner at the time. The company also stressed that autonomous vehicles would operate alongside conventional taxis. 0 comments. about "Freenow and Apollo Go launch London robotaxi trial"

Lyft and Baidu enter London's robotaxi battleground as testing begins. 1:00 AM PDT · July 28, 2026 Chinese tech giant Baidu has started testing autonomous vehicles in London as part of its partnership with Lyft and Freenow, the German taxi and multi-mobility app that Lyft now owns. Baidu is the latest in a string of companies to test self-driving technology in the UK ahead of commercial robotaxi deployments. The testing, which began Tuesday with human safety operators, comes nearly a year after the two companies struck a strategic partnership to deploy Baidu's purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxi across key European markets through the Lyft platform. The vehicles will eventually be available through Freenow, which Lyft acquired in 2025 for about $197 million. That deal gave Lyft a foothold in Europe's ride-hailing market, where a handful of well-funded companies are now jockeying to be first to market with robotaxis. London is particular is shaping up to be a key battleground in the region. In April, Waymo began testing its autonomous vehicles with human safety operators in the city. Uber and its self-driving tech partner, Wayve, also announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in London this year. That initial service - which customers can now sign up for on an interest list - will have human safety operators behind the wheel before fully driverless operations begin later. Baidu and Freenow by Lyft (as the latter service is now called) said they expect to invite the public to hail their robotaxis in 2027. The companies, which didn't provide a more detailed timeline, noted that the launch will depend on regulatory approval. For now, dozens of test vehicles will operate within London's borough of Brent. Lyft and Freenow said they continue discussions with safety and city officials, including Transport for London (TfL) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV). The UK government is in the process of creating autonomous vehicle regulations and opened applications in May for companies interested in an AV pilot program that lets companies test self-driving vehicles under government oversight. When the service does launch, Freenow by Lyft said it will operate a hybrid network - employing the same language rival Uber has used - meaning human drivers operating taxis and private-hire vehicles will work alongside the robotaxis. OpenAI's own model went rogue before Kimi had Wall Street sweating | Equity Podcast 0 seconds of 37 minutes, 12 seconds Volume 0% "As a platform with deep roots in the taxi industry, our priority is ensuring that autonomous technology supports the professional drivers who keep London moving," Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, said in a statement. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. Kirsten Korosec Transportation Editor Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade. She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch's Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, "The Autonocast." She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive. You can contact or verify outreach from Kirsten by emailing [email protected] or via encrypted message at kkorosec.07 on Signal. October 13 - 15 San Francisco Scale faster. Grow your portfolio. Gain practical expertise. No matter your goal, Disrupt can empower you. Save up to $330 today!

Lyft and Baidu enter London s robotaxi battleground as testing begins. Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicles will be available on Freenow, the mobility network that Lyft acquired in 2025. Chinese tech giant Baidu has started testing autonomous vehicles in London as part of its partnership with Lyft and Freenow, the German taxi and multi-mobility app that Lyft now owns. Baidu is the latest in a string of companies to test self-driving technology in the UK ahead of commercial robotaxi deployments. The testing, which began Tuesday with human safety operators, comes nearly a year after the two companies struck a strategic partnership to deploy Baidu's purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxi across key European markets through the Lyft platform. The vehicles will eventually be available through Freenow, which Lyft acquired in 2025 for about $197 million. That deal gave Lyft a foothold in Europe's ride-hailing market, where a handful of well-funded companies are now jockeying to be first to market with robotaxis. London is particular is shaping up to be a key battleground in the region. In April, Waymo began testing its autonomous vehicles with human safety operators in the city. Uber and its self-driving tech partner, Wayve, also announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in London this year. That initial service - which customers can now sign up for on an interest list - will have human safety operators behind the wheel before fully driverless operations begin later. Baidu and Freenow by Lyft (as the latter service is now called) said they expect to invite the public to hail their robotaxis in 2027. The companies, which didn't provide a more detailed timeline, noted that the launch will depend on regulatory approval. For now, dozens of test vehicles will operate within London's borough of Brent. Lyft and Freenow said they continue discussions with safety and city officials, including Transport for London (TfL) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV). The UK government is in the process of creating autonomous vehicle regulations and opened applications in May for companies interested in an AV pilot program that lets companies test self-driving vehicles under government oversight. When the service does launch, Freenow by Lyft said it will operate a hybrid network - employing the same language rival Uber has used - meaning human drivers operating taxis and private-hire vehicles will work alongside the robotaxis. "As a platform with deep roots in the taxi industry, our priority is ensuring that autonomous technology supports the professional drivers who keep London moving," Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, said in a statement.