Chinese tech giant Baidu has started testing autonomous vehicles in London as part of its partnership with Lyft and Freenow, the German taxi app now owned by Lyft. This move comes a year after both companies signed a strategic deal to deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis across Europe through the Lyft platform.

The initial tests feature human safety operators behind the wheel in London's Brent borough. Meanwhile, other giants like Waymo and Uber are gearing up for their own robotaxi launches, making London a key battleground. The UK government is also preparing regulations to oversee these vehicles.

Freenow by Lyft expects public hails of their robotaxis in 2027, but the timeline will depend on regulatory approvals. For now, human drivers and robotaxis will co-exist as part of the hybrid network, with Freenow CEO Thomas Zimmermann promising to support professional London taxi drivers.

The entry of Baidu into this European market shows AI’s global reach. As autonomous vehicles become a reality, the question remains: who or what controls the wheel?