Uber, Lyft, Baidu join for driverless taxis in London in 2026
by Chris Benson · UPIDec. 22 (UPI) -- Chinese multinational tech company Baidu said Monday it plans to partner with Uber and Lyft to test robotaxis in Britain by 2026.
Baidu's Apollo Go fleet already operates in multiple Chinese cities, logging millions of driverless trips. The partners now aim to secure permission to trial autonomous vehicles in London.
British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called the development "a vote of confidence" in Britain's self-driving ambitions, but safety doubts persist.
"We're planning for self-driving cars to carry passengers for the first time from spring, under our pilot scheme -- harnessing this technology safely and responsibly to transform travel," Alexander posted on social media.
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In June, Uber said it would advance autonomous vehicle trials in Britain in line with government plans to launch limited commercial services by 2026.
"We're excited to accelerate Britain's leadership in the future of mobility, bringing another safe and reliable travel option to Londoners next year," Uber officials wrote Monday.
Lyft CEO David Risher revealed that London riders will be the first to try Baidu's Apollo Go self-driving cars.
The companies still await regulatory approval and if cleared, Lyft plans to begin testing dozens of vehicles next year and expand to hundreds.
Lyft joined Uber and director competitor Waymo in planning self-driving taxi launches in London next year.
A YouGov poll in October found that nearly 60% of the British public would never feel comfortable using a driverless taxi, while 85% said they'd still choose a human-driven cab if cost and convenience were equal.
Ongoing reports of self-driving car malfunctions and traffic disruptions continue to fuel skepticism.
Waymo, for example, halted its San Francisco service on Saturday after a power outage stranded several vehicles, followed by local controversy surrounding the death of a cat allegedly by a Waymo vehicle.