Key facts
- Baidu's Apollo Go and Lyft's Freenow unit are testing autonomous vehicles in London.
- A commercial driverless robotaxi service is targeted for launch in 2027.
- Fully driverless vehicles are expected on London streets next year.
- Regulatory guidelines are anticipated in the coming week.
- The robotaxis are not intended to replace London's black cabs.
Baidu's Apollo Go and Lyft's Freenow unit have begun testing autonomous vehicles on London streets, unveiling Baidu's RT6 model on Thursday. The companies aim to deploy fully driverless vehicles next year, with a commercial robotaxi service planned for 2027. This move comes as competition in London's robotaxi sector intensifies, with rivals like Wayve and Uber already operating services. Waymo, a unit of Google parent Alphabet, also plans to launch a driverless service by the end of this year. The challenging London road network is being used as a testbed for the technology, with regulatory guidelines expected soon.