Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing platform Apollo Go and Lyft-owned European mobility service FREENOW launched public road tests of autonomous vehicles in London on July 28. The trial marks Baidu's first autonomous driving test on London roads and its expansion into the right-hand-drive market.

The tests are being conducted in Brent, west London, with safety operators inside the vehicles during the initial phase. They will cover both urban and suburban roads, with plans to introduce public autonomous ride-hailing services from 2027, subject to regulatory approval.

With its narrow streets, heavy traffic, and left-side driving, London presents a highly challenging environment for autonomous driving. The trial also underscores growing competition between Chinese companies and international players such as Waymo and Wayve.

In July, the world's first international technical guidelines for autonomous driving systems were approved, with China among the key contributors to their development. The guidelines aim to establish common standards for the safe development and wider adoption of autonomous driving technologies worldwide.

Apollo Go has expanded its autonomous ride-hailing services to 27 cities worldwide, completing more than 22 million rides while continuing to grow its presence in overseas markets.