Baidu, the Chinese technology company, has started testing its robotaxi service on streets in London, Reuters reported on Friday, 23 October 2026. The trial places one of China's best-known autonomous driving operators on the roads of the UK capital.
According to Reuters, the testing is underway on London streets. The report did not specify how many vehicles are involved, which routes they cover, or whether passengers are being carried during the trials.
The move marks a step outside China for Baidu's robotaxi business, which the company has developed in its home market. Reuters framed the London testing as an expansion of that effort into the UK.
Details beyond the basic fact of the testing remain limited in the reporting. Reuters did not disclose the terms of any arrangement with London authorities, the duration of the trials, or the regulatory approvals involved. It also did not say whether the tests are running with safety drivers on board or on a fully driverless basis.
The arrival of a Chinese robotaxi operator on London roads is likely to draw attention from regulators, competitors and residents alike, given the sensitivity around autonomous vehicles and foreign technology in the UK. Those reactions were not covered in the reporting available.
What to watch next: whether Baidu or London transport authorities release further details on the scope of the trials, and whether the testing leads to a broader commercial rollout in the city.
