London's streets are poised for a major technological shift, with a new partnership set to bring self-driving taxis to the capital by 2026. Ride-hailing giants Uber and Lyft have joined forces with Chinese tech leader Baidu to introduce a fleet of electric autonomous vehicles.
A Three-Way Race for London's Roads
The announcement intensifies competition in the emerging market for autonomous transport. Waymo, a company owned by Google's parent Alphabet, has already commenced testing its own self-driving Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in the city. The race is on for these firms to establish a presence and be ready to carry paying passengers as soon as regulators grant approval, which is anticipated in 2026.
The consortium plans to test Baidu's fully electric RT6 model on London's complex road network. Notably, this vehicle was designed from the ground up to operate without a driver, unlike some competitors' models which are adaptations of existing production cars.
Safety Drivers and Data: The Realities Behind the Tech
Despite the advanced technology, experts caution that the vision of a completely empty, unsupervised taxi is still distant. Professor Saber Fallah, an expert in safe AI and autonomy at the University of Surrey, told Metro that London's challenging layout will likely necessitate a safety driver inside the vehicle for the foreseeable future.
"I'm pretty sure they are not going to be fully driverless," he stated, predicting regulations will require a human on board. He added that a core commercial goal for the companies is to "make more profit... by not paying drivers."
Professor Fallah also highlighted that a primary aim of the London trials is data collection. The vehicles have been developed for Chinese cities, where traffic systems differ significantly, such as driving on the right. "The most important thing they are looking for with the tests is data, not technology," he emphasised. On data privacy, he expressed confidence provided the companies comply with strict UK regulations.
Government Backing and European Expansion
The initiative has received political support. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called it "another vote of confidence" in the UK's self-driving vehicle plans, with a pilot scheme aiming to carry passengers from Spring 2026.
Lyft's CEO, David Risher, confirmed the plans: "It's official: Lyft and Baidu are bringing AVs to London." Pending regulatory approval, testing with dozens of vehicles will begin next year through the Lyft and Freenow apps, scaling to hundreds thereafter.
This move is part of a wider European rollout. Chinese firms are leading trials in several countries:
- In Switzerland, public transport operator PostBus is collaborating with Baidu for trials in eastern cantons.
- Uber is expected to partner with Chinese firm Momenta for tests in Munich, Germany.
- Robotaxi company Pony.ai, with Stellantis, plans to begin trials in Luxembourg.
While the driverless future is accelerating onto London's map, it appears a human element will remain in the cab for some time to come, balancing innovation with safety on the capital's historic streets.
