Lyft and Baidu begin testing robotaxis in London

Lyft and Baidu have begun testing autonomous taxis in London, as reported by TechCrunch. The companies announced plans in August 2025. The vehicles will operate in the Brent district. The partner is Freenow, one of the largest taxi services in Europe, which Lyft acquired in 2025. Currently, a safety driver is behind the wheel, and rides cannot be ordered; tests are closed. Public robotaxi rides are expected by 2027, depending on regulators. Several companies are already testing autonomous taxis in London, including Uber, Wayve, and Waymo. Historically, Lyft operated only in the US; the UK tests mark its entry into the European market. Lyft previously launched robotaxis in several US states but either paused partnerships or partners shut down. Currently, Lyft is also testing robotaxis in Atlanta. In July 2025, Baidu and Uber announced a multi-year partnership to launch robotaxis outside the US and China, targeting Asia and the Middle East markets.