Freenow by Lyft and Baidu’s Apollo Go showed off the Chinese company’s RT6 autonomous vehicle in London on Thursday and said they hope to launch a driverless robotaxi service in the city in 2027, Reuters reported. The cars have been testing on London roads with safety drivers since the summer, and the partners hope to run them without anyone behind the wheel next year.
ITV News London was also given access to the vehicles on 22 October, reporting that the driverless taxis could be on the capital’s roads by 2027. Freenow, which Lyft owns, supplies the ride-hailing app and local operations, while Baidu supplies the RT6 vehicle and the self-driving system.
In brief
- Freenow by Lyft and Baidu’s Apollo Go showed the RT6 robotaxi in London on 22 October, aiming for a driverless service in 2027.
- Freenow’s UK general manager, Danny O’Gorman, says the firm is talking about “tens of vehicles in the next year or two” and that robotaxis are not replacing black cabs.
- He told Reuters the company is working closely with Transport for London and expects regulatory guidelines within a week.
Freenow says its cars are learning London like a learner driver
Danny O’Gorman, Freenow’s UK general manager, described London as a particularly good place to test, with lots of speed bumps, narrow streets and many roads limited to 20 miles per hour, according to Reuters.
“So the car is going through the phase of learning the rules of the road much like you would do if you’re trying to pass your own driving test,” O’Gorman told Reuters during a demonstration ride.
Testing started in the borough of Brent, with trained safety operators on board, the companies said when the programme began in July. In a 28 July press release, Freenow said Brent offers a mix of urban and suburban driving. Its autonomous rides page now says the cars are starting out in Brent and Wembley and will expand later. The page describes a final phase of testing with no safety operator before public rides open.
O’Gorman says robotaxis are not a replacement for black cabs
O’Gorman addressed one of the most sensitive questions in London transport directly. “In terms of the taxi in London, the iconic black cab, this is not a replacement for that service,” he told Reuters. “Black cabs are a fundamental part of London.”
The firm is talking about “tens of vehicles in the next year or two” as it tests the market, he said. He acknowledged that new technology “can sometimes be scary” but said most Londoners were excited about the prospect, according to Reuters.
Freenow’s business is built partly on the black cab trade, and its July release said the robotaxis would run in a hybrid network alongside its existing taxi and private hire drivers. Freenow also cited Censuswide research it commissioned in March, in which 58% of 3,001 respondents said they would be likely to try an autonomous vehicle.
Transport for London is involved, and guidelines are expected soon
O’Gorman said the company was working closely with Transport for London (TfL) and expected regulatory guidelines in the coming week, Reuters reported. He did not say what the guidelines would cover. In July, Freenow said it had held extensive discussions with TfL and the government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
Baidu’s own July announcement put public rides from 2027 “subject to regulatory approvals”. It said London builds on Apollo Go’s work in Hong Kong, its first right-hand-drive market, where it received a fully driverless trial permit in July. TSN has reported on Apollo Go’s separate community rides in Tung Chung, Hong Kong.
London is becoming a crowded robotaxi test market
The most important number in the Reuters interview may be the smallest: “tens of vehicles in the next year or two”. That is a cautious scale for a city of London’s size. It suggests that, even if the 2027 target is met, the first service will be a limited trial of the market rather than a fleet that changes how most Londoners travel. A firm launch date, service area or price has not yet been given.
Competition is building at the same time. Reuters notes that Wayve and Uber launched a London robotaxi service in September, initially with a safety driver, and that Waymo aims to go fully driverless in London by the end of this year. Pony.ai and Uber have also announced testing plans for London, and Uber is working with Verne and Pony.ai on a robotaxi pilot in Manchester. With several operators chasing the same approvals, the regulatory guidelines O’Gorman mentioned are likely to shape who can move fastest.
The China link adds another layer. Reuters says the US Senate is working towards a permanent ban on Chinese cars, pushing more companies to focus on Europe. That makes London an important early market for Baidu outside Asia.
What happens next
The next step is the regulatory guidance O’Gorman expects shortly, followed by testing without safety drivers. Freenow says it will remove safety operators for a final testing phase before opening bookings. Both companies say public rides are planned for 2027, subject to approval. TSN will update this story when the guidelines are published or a launch date is set.
Sources
- Reuters via Investing.com: China’s Baidu tests robotaxi on London streets
- ITV News London: Exclusive look at new driverless taxis from Freenow (22 October)
- Freenow press release, 28 July 2026
- Baidu via PR Newswire, 28 July 2026
- Freenow: Autonomous Rides, London
Related stories
- Pony.ai and Uber Plan Robotaxi Testing in London: What Is Planned, and What Is Not Known
- Baidu’s Apollo Go Will Give Tung Chung Residents Free Self-Driving Car Rides
- Uber, Verne and Pony.ai Begin Testing Robotaxis in Manchester
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