Baidu's Apollo Go Launches Autonomous Taxi Public Testing in London with Uber and FREENOW

Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go, in partnership with global mobility platform Uber and European mobility platform FREENOW (a subsidiary of Lyft), officially launched public road testing in London on July 28. This marks the first time a Chinese autonomous vehicle has conducted real-road testing in the complex traffic environment of the British capital, and further expands Apollo Go's presence into the right-hand drive market following its launch in Hong Kong.

According to FREENOW's announcement, the test fleet will use Apollo RT6 autonomous taxis with safety drivers. Initial testing will take place in the Brent area of London, which includes a mix of urban and suburban driving conditions. Uber also confirmed that Apollo Go vehicles have begun operating on public roads in London. FREENOW and Apollo Go plan to offer ride-hailing services to the public from 2027.