Baidu’s Apollo Go self-driving cars are set to hit London roads via integrations with the Uber and Lyft platforms. This development was confirmed by both companies on their respective social media channels, highlighting a shared vision for innovative urban mobility.

According to Lyft CEO David Risher, the initial rollout will see a fleet of Baidu’s autonomous vehicles tested in 2026, contingent upon receiving regulatory approvals. Risher shared on social media platform X that the plan is to expand the fleet to hundreds of vehicles over time, marking a significant scale-up of autonomous services in the city.

Similarly, Uber has announced that it aims to launch its first pilot program in the first half of 2026. The company expressed its enthusiasm for advancing the UK’s leadership in future mobility, emphasizing that this initiative will provide Londoners with a new, safe, and reliable transportation option.

Meanwhile, Uber said that its first pilot is expected to start in the first half of 2026. “We’re excited to accelerate Britain’s leadership in the future of mobility, bringing another safe and reliable travel option to Londoners next year,” the company added.

The moves add to Baidu’s growing global footprint, which it says includes 22 cities and more than 250,000 weekly trips, as it races against other Chinese players like WeRide and Western giants like Alphabet‘s Waymo. 

The UK, in particular, has seen a wave of interest from driverless taxi companies, following the government’s announcement in June that it would accelerate its plans to allow autonomous vehicle tech on public roads. 

The government now aims to begin permitting robotaxis to operate in small-scale pilots starting in spring 2026, with Baidu likely aiming to be among the first. 

The city of London has also established a “Vision Zero” goal to eliminate all serious injuries and deaths in its transportation systems by 2041, with autonomous driving technology expected to play a large role. 

News of Baidu pilots comes as its competitor, Waymo, also looks to begin testing in London, with plans for a full-service launch in 2026. Waymo currently operates, is testing, or has plans to launch in at least 26 markets, including major cities like Tokyo and New York City.

Baidu, for its part, has been aggressively expanding globally, with testing rolling out in international markets like the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland.