Global robotaxi rollouts are accelerating, with Chinese companies such as Baidu and Weride Inc., and Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo leading the charge. Uber and Weride have launched driverless operations in Abu Dhabi, with plans to expand in the Middle East. Baidu is conducting trials in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Switzerland
Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. are each teaming up with Baidu Inc. to trial driverless taxis in the UK, as ride-sharing companies race to deploy autonomous services around the world.
Uber said Monday a pilot program using Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis in London will start in the first half of 2026, with commercial services expected in the city before the end of next year.
Separately, ride-hailing platform Lyft will also carry out UK tests next year with dozens of the same vehicles, pending regulatory approval, according to an X post by Lyft Chief Executive Officer David Risher.
As part of the partnerships, Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 vehicles will join the London networks of the ride-hailing platforms in 2026, marking the first direct competition between U.S. and Chinese autonomous giants in a European capital, following Alphabet-owned Waymo’s recent start of supervised tests in the city.
The UK’s emergence as a global sandbox is fueled by the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which provides a legal framework for liability that currently eludes the more fragmented European Union. The act shifts legal responsibility for incidents from the person in the car to the “authorized self-driving entity.”
London-based startup Wayve is also preparing to launch driverless trials in 2026, leveraging a roughly $1 billion investment led by SoftBank Group (9984.T), opens new tab and Uber, as it tests its “mapless” AI technology on London’s complex urban streets alongside its global rivals.
For Lyft, the UK trial serves as a cornerstone of its international expansion following its $200 million acquisition of the European taxi app FreeNow this year.
Global robotaxi rollouts are accelerating, with Chinese companies such as Baidu and Weride Inc., and Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo leading the charge. Uber and Weride have launched driverless operations in Abu Dhabi, with plans to expand in the Middle East. Baidu is conducting trials in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Switzerland.
American self-driving technology company Waymo started tests in London this month.
Uber abandoned in-house development of autonomous driving in 2020, and is instead pursuing tie-ups with a range of robotaxi companies. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a Bloomberg Television interview this month that the company plans to offer driverless services in more than 10 markets by the end of next year.
Other ride-hailing platforms have similar strategies. Lyft has already signed a deal with Baidu to roll out robotaxis in Europe. Southeast Asia’s Grab is partnering with Chinese companies Weride and Momenta.
It’s not yet clear how profitable the robotaxi model will be. Listed companies Pony AI Inc. and Weride are still losing money after selling shares to raise funds.
Robotaxis promise safer, greener and more cost-efficient rides, but profitability remains uncertain. Public companies such as Pony.ai and WeRide are still loss-making, and analysts warn that the high cost of autonomous fleets could pressure margins for platforms such as Uber and Lyft.
Analysts have said hybrid networks, mixing robotaxis with human drivers, may be the most viable model to manage demand peaks and pricing.
Agencies