Uber Technologies Inc has teamed up with China’s Baidu Inc to begin robotaxi testing in the United Kingdom, according to a report published on Monday. The trials are expected to start in the first half of 2026.
Under the agreement, Baidu will supply its Apollo Go RT6 autonomous vehicles for the pilot program. The move builds on an earlier partnership between the two companies aimed at integrating Baidu’s robotaxi technology into Uber’s global ridesharing platform.
The planned UK tests come less than a month after Waymo, owned by Alphabet, began trialing its autonomous taxis in London, highlighting growing competition in the self-driving mobility space.
Robotaxis are increasingly viewed as a major growth opportunity for the taxi and ridesharing industry, particularly as advances in artificial intelligence accelerate the development of fully autonomous driving systems.
Following the report, Baidu’s shares rose 1.6% in Hong Kong trading, reflecting investor optimism around the expansion of its autonomous vehicle technology into international markets.
