Baidu, Uber, and Lyft to Launch Robotaxis in Britain by 2026

Baidu has partnered with Uber and Lyft to introduce autonomous vehicle services in Britain by 2026. Lyft announced plans to test dozens of robotaxis pending regulatory approval, with ambitions to scale to hundreds shortly after. Uber aims to begin trials in the first half of 2026, positioning the initiative as a step toward safer urban mobility in London.

Baidu, already operating in 22 Chinese cities with over 250,000 weekly trips, faces competition from domestic rivals like WeRide and global players such as Waymo. Britain's accelerated regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, enacted in June, has made it a prime market for driverless technology. The government aims to greenlight pilot programs by spring 2026.

London's 'Vision Zero' campaign, targeting the elimination of traffic fatalities by 2041, aligns with the push for self-driving solutions. Waymo has also signaled intentions to enter the London market, expanding its global footprint beyond current operations in Tokyo and New York.