Baidu begins Apollo Go RT6 robotaxi testing in London
Baidu has begun road-testing purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis in London's Brent borough with safety operators aboard, ahead of public rides in 2027.
In Brief
- Baidu has begun testing its purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis on London’s streets with safety operators aboard.
- The trial runs in the Brent borough and is tied to Lyft’s Freenow platform, with public rides planned for 2027.
- London is now a crowded robotaxi battleground, with Waymo, Uber and Wayve also testing or preparing launches.
Baidu has started road-testing its purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis on the streets of outer London, the latest sign that the city has become a key arena for self-driving vehicles.
The trial began with human safety operators aboard and is running in the Brent borough, the companies said. Baidu is working with Lyft and its Freenow service, which Lyft acquired in 2025, to lay the groundwork for a commercial launch.
Public riders are not part of the test yet. Baidu and Freenow by Lyft expect to invite people to hail the robotaxis sometime in 2027, though that timeline depends on regulatory approval from Transport for London and the UK government.
What the Apollo Go RT6 trial involves
The RT6 is Baidu’s sixth-generation, purpose-built autonomous vehicle, and it is designed from the start for driverless operation rather than being a retrofitted car. Dozens of the vehicles will operate inside Brent during the current phase, a mix of urban and suburban roads.
When the service eventually launches, it will run as a hybrid network. Human drivers operating taxis and private-hire vehicles will work alongside the robotaxis, the same model rival Uber has described for its own planned London service.
The testing builds on Baidu’s wider track record. As of April 2026 the company had provided more than 22 million cumulative rides, and in the first quarter of 2026 alone it completed 3.2 million fully driverless rides, a volume growing more than 120% year over year as autonomous vehicles expand globally.
London’s robotaxi race is getting crowded
Baidu is far from alone. Waymo began testing its autonomous vehicles in London earlier this year with human safety operators aboard, and Uber, together with self-driving partner Wayve, has announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in the city this year, TechCrunch reported.
That service will also start with safety operators before moving to fully driverless operation, and customers can already join an interest list. The UK government is meanwhile drafting autonomous-vehicle rules and has recently launched a robotaxi pilot program that lets firms test self-driving vehicles under oversight.
Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, framed the effort as supportive of human drivers rather than a replacement. ‘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,’ he said.
FAQ
Where is Baidu testing its Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis?
The trial is running in the Brent borough of outer London, with dozens of purpose-built RT6 vehicles operating on a mix of urban and suburban roads and safety operators aboard.
When can the public ride Baidu’s London robotaxis?
Baidu and Freenow by Lyft expect to invite public riders in 2027, subject to regulatory approval from Transport for London and the UK government.
Who else is testing robotaxis in London?
Waymo began testing in April with safety operators, and Uber with partner Wayve plans to launch a London service this year, both starting with human drivers before going driverless.
