Spy in the cab? Fears raised over China's London-bound robotaxis

Chinese robotaxis are due to be on London’s streets next year after the US ride-hailing companies Lyft and Uber announced plans to use Beijing-based Baidu’s self-driving technology.

- Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent

Lyft is the third firm to announce plans for self-driving taxis in the UK capital next year, after Uber and Waymo, the main operator of robotaxis in the US.

Lyft’s ride-hailing services are the major rival to Uber’s in the US and Canada, and this year Lyft expanded into Europe after acquiring the Freenow app in the summer.

While Uber had signed a deal to work with Baidu in the summer in other global markets, it had not until now said that the Chinese tech company’s Apollo Go cars were planned for London. It had previously announced its services would be operated with self-driving technology from the UK-US firm Wayve.

Lyft said it planned to start tests with dozens of self-driving Apollo Go cars in London in 2026.