‘NOT COMPARABLE’: Freenow by Lyft insists black cabs’ access and speed will remain unmatched even when autonomous ride-hail launches
- Perry Richardson
- 10 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Autonomous vehicles set to launch on the Freenow by Lyft platform in London will not replace the capital’s black cab trade, according to UK General Manager Danny O’Gorman, who said licensed taxis will retain operational and service advantages that technology cannot replicate.
In an exclusive interview, O’Gorman said that while autonomous vehicles, or AVs, are expected to increase overall demand for shared mobility, the role of the capital’s licensed taxi fleet will remain distinct. “While AVs will help grow overall demand for shared mobility, black cabs provide a bespoke, high-quality service, comfort, space and accessibility that is not comparable,” he said.
He added that black cabs will continue to hold a structural advantage on London’s roads. “In addition, black cabs will continue to move faster than other vehicles as they can use the bus lanes or pull up on double yellow lines.” Those regulatory privileges, combined with the requirement for drivers to complete the Knowledge of London, create what O’Gorman described as a differentiated, premium offer within the capital’s transport mix.
The comments come as Freenow by Lyft prepares for an initial deployment of autonomous vehicles in London during 2026. The launch will begin with an initial fleet of dozens of vehicles, with further expansion dependent on passenger demand, regulatory feedback and operational performance. O’Gorman said the company hopes to scale to hundreds of vehicles in the years following deployment, subject to regulatory approval.
Freenow by Lyft backs black cabs as autonomous rollout begins in London
The rollout will be delivered in partnership with Baidu, the Chinese technology group that has invested heavily in autonomous driving systems. Under the arrangement, Lyft will own the operational value chain and marketplace, while Baidu will supply the vehicles, undertake technology validation and provide technical support. An initial order of dozens of vehicles has been placed for London in 2026 to begin mapping and testing, with a measured rollout on the Lyft ecosystem to follow.
The move places Freenow by Lyft alongside other global platforms exploring AV integration in major cities, as regulators and operators assess how self-driving technology will coexist with established taxi and private hire markets. London presents a particularly complex operating environment given its dense road network, strict licensing framework and established black cab sector.
O’Gorman framed the introduction of AVs as a market expansion strategy rather than a displacement threat. He said autonomous vehicles are expected to increase vehicle availability and improve arrival times, encouraging more passengers to opt for taxis and private hire vehicles over private car ownership. “Rather than replacing human drivers, AVs are helping to grow the pie,” he said, describing the future as a “hybrid network” in which human drivers and automated vehicles operate alongside one another.
Under that model, human drivers would remain central in scenarios less suited to automation, including extreme weather conditions and journeys requiring physical assistance or higher levels of customer interaction. O’Gorman argued that this would place greater emphasis on the hospitality and service elements provided by licensed drivers, particularly within the black cab trade.
He also sought to reassure cabbies concerned about the long-term impact on earnings and status. “The introduction of autonomous vehicles will be a landmark moment for London, but this won’t be a replacement for the world-class service of our licensed taxi trade,” he said. He described black cab drivers as the backbone of London’s roads and said the platform remains committed to supporting the trade as it recovers from recent industry challenges.
For the wider private hire vehicle sector, the proposed scaling of AV fleets to potentially hundreds of vehicles could alter supply dynamics over time, particularly if arrival times fall and passenger demand increases as projected. However, the speed and scale of deployment will remain closely tied to regulatory oversight and operational performance during early trials.
London’s transport authorities have yet to outline the full parameters under which commercial AV fleets will operate at scale. As mapping and testing begins in 2026, operators across both taxi and private hire sectors will be monitoring how autonomous integration affects demand patterns and driver utilisation in one of the world’s most tightly regulated urban mobility markets.
O’Gorman said the long-term objective is to combine new technology with the established expertise of the Knowledge of London to maintain the capital’s status as a global leader in urban mobility. For now, the first phase will be limited in size, with the real test likely to come as regulators assess safety data and passenger uptake during the initial years of operation.
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