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SearchApollo Go began testing its RT6 vehicles in Brent alongside Freenow, the Lyft platform. Commercial service is targeted for 2027, but depends on regulatory approvals.
Baidu, through its division Apollo Go, and Freenow, owned by Lyft, have begun on-road robotaxi tests in the London borough of Brent. The autonomous RT6 vehicles are operating with safety drivers on board: this is a testing phase, not a commercial service open to the public.
The initiative launches in London the European alliance that Baidu and Lyft announced in 2025. The plan contemplates integrating Apollo Go's autonomous driving technology into the Freenow platform, which provides its local presence and operations.
The tests are being conducted on urban and suburban routes in Brent. According to information published by the companies and consulted media, dozens of vehicles are expected to participate in this stage. Lyft and Freenow are holding conversations with Transport for London (TfL) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) regarding the project and applicable requirements.
The British government is developing the framework for autonomous vehicles and opened applications in May for a supervised pilot program. Therefore, the 2027 date is a target, not a confirmation that the service will begin then: public access will depend on the corresponding regulatory approvals.
Freenow's commercial proposal is to operate a mixed network, with robotaxis alongside taxis and hire vehicles with drivers. Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, stated that the platform's priority is to integrate autonomous technology in a way that supports professional drivers.
For mobility companies, this model would allow incorporating autonomous vehicles into a platform that already connects passengers with various transport options. However, available sources describe an operational intention, not verified results regarding wait times, efficiency, or impact on employment.
The Baidu and Freenow test joins other announcements in the British capital. Waymo has also tested vehicles with safety operators, while Uber and the technology company Wayve have communicated plans to develop a robotaxi service. Competition aims to establish itself in a market where commercial operation still depends on permits and regulatory conditions.
For now, the confirmed scope of the Apollo Go project is concrete: tests in Brent, with human supervision on board and no commercial access for passengers. The evolution towards a public service will depend on the results of the tests and, above all, on the authorizations that correspond in the United Kingdom.
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