Lyft plan to launch ‘dozens’ of autonomous vehicles on Freenow platform in London next year as part of testing
- Perry Richardson
- 45 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Lyft has confirmed plans to begin testing autonomous vehicles in London next year through the Freenow platform, marking the first deployment of Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi technology in the UK and the wider region.
The announcement was made by Lyft chief executive David Risher, who said riders in London would be the first outside Asia to experience Baidu’s autonomous vehicles operating within the Lyft and Freenow ecosystem. Initial testing is expected to start with dozens of vehicles, scaling to hundreds once regulatory approvals are secured.
The programme will use fully electric RT6 vehicles developed by Baidu’s Apollo Go unit, which are purpose-built for ride-hailing and designed to operate without a safety driver. Testing will take place pending approval from Transport for London and other UK regulators.
Lyft said the rollout would form part of a hybrid network combining autonomous vehicles and human drivers, with the company positioning AVs as a supplement rather than a replacement to existing ride-hailing services. The firm said it is working closely with Transport for London and local stakeholders as part of the regulatory process.
Testing of Baidu Apollo Go vehicles is expected to begin in 2026, subject to UK regulatory approval
The London deployment builds on a strategic partnership announced in August 2025 between Lyft and Baidu, under which Lyft agreed to deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles across key European markets. Germany and the UK were identified as the first target markets, with broader European expansion planned in subsequent years.
Under the agreement, Lyft will deploy Baidu Apollo Go’s sixth-generation vehicles as its initial autonomous solution in Europe. Baidu has said the partnership is central to its international expansion strategy, while Lyft has positioned itself as a platform provider for autonomous mobility in regulated European markets.
Baidu claims to be the world’s largest autonomous vehicle operator, with more than 17 million cumulative rides delivered across 22 cities globally. Its Apollo Go fleet has logged more than 240 million kilometres of autonomous driving, including over 140 million kilometres in fully driverless operation.
For Freenow, which operates across multiple European cities as a taxi and private hire aggregation platform, the London pilot represents a significant shift. Autonomous vehicles would operate alongside established licensed taxi and PHV drivers, rather than as a standalone service.
The timeline for commercial deployment beyond testing remains dependent on regulatory progress. While UK legislation currently allows limited autonomous vehicle trials, wider rollout at scale will require further approvals under the evolving self-driving vehicle framework.
Further details on exact long-term fleet size, operating areas and launch phases are likely to be confirmed closer to the start of testing.
Risher said: “It’s official: Lyft and Baidu are bringing AVs to London.
“Riders across the city will be the first in the region to experience Baidu’s Apollo Go vehicles. We expect to start testing our initial fleet with dozens of vehicles next year - pending regulatory approval - through the Lyft and Freenow ecosystem, with plans to scale to hundreds from there.
“Our hybrid network - AVs and drivers working together - will serve all of London’s travel needs. We’re working closely with Transport for London regulators and local communities to expand the rideshare market and create more opportunities for everyone.
“More to come, but can’t wait to see the future of mobility arrive in one of the world’s greatest cities.”
