Uber confirms latest autonomous vehicle pilot in London with Baidu Apollo Go
- Perry Richardson
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Uber has announced plans to pilot autonomous vehicles in London through a new partnership with Baidu, with testing expected to begin in the first half of 2026 subject to regulatory approval.
The ride-hailing company said it will work with Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous driving unit to deploy self-driving vehicles in the capital as part of the UK government’s programme to expand trials of automated vehicles on public roads.
In a statement published on social media, Uber said the pilot would support Britain’s ambition to become a leader in autonomous mobility while offering Londoners an additional transport option. The company said the vehicles would be tested under the UK’s frontier plan for self-driving trials.
The partnership will see Uber integrate Baidu’s Apollo Go technology into its London operations, with testing focused on safety, reliability and regulatory compliance. Details on fleet size, operating zones and whether safety drivers will be present have not yet been confirmed.
Testing is expected to begin in the first half of 2026 under the UK’s self-driving vehicle trial framework
Baidu’s Apollo Go platform operates fully electric RT6 vehicles designed specifically for ride-hailing. The Chinese technology group says it is the world’s largest autonomous vehicle operator, with more than 17 million cumulative rides completed across multiple cities and extensive experience running driverless services at scale.
The announcement places Uber alongside a growing list of mobility platforms seeking to establish an early foothold in the UK autonomous vehicle market ahead of wider legislative reform. The government has signalled support for expanded trials as part of its longer-term self-driving strategy, although commercial deployment remains dependent on regulatory milestones.
The Uber pilot was confirmed on the same day Baidu revealed a parallel agreement with Lyft to deploy Apollo Go vehicles through the Freenow platform in London. The dual announcements underline Baidu’s push to accelerate its European expansion by partnering with established ride-hailing operators rather than launching standalone services.
The proposed trials will require close coordination with regulators Transport for London (TfL), which oversees taxi and private hire regulation in the capital. TfL has previously stressed that safety and accountability will be central to any autonomous vehicle deployment.
An Uber spokesperson said: “Exciting news for the UK: we're teaming up with Baidu's Apollo Go to pilot autonomous vehicles in London!
“Testing is expected to start in the first half of 2026, under the UK’s frontier plan to begin trials for self-driving vehicles. We’re excited to accelerate Britain's leadership in the future of mobility, bringing another safe and reliable travel option to Londoners next year.”
