Baidu's Low-Cost Robotaxi Solution Gains International Recognition with Uber & Lyft Partnership

Uber and Lyft are partnering with Baidu to test robotaxis in London in 2026, marking a major milestone for autonomous driving in the UK. This partnership underscores the competitiveness of Chinese low-cost autonomous driving solutions and allows Uber and Lyft to outsource the regulatory burden and insurance costs to Baidu, while retaining the customer relationship and booking fee. Baidu's Apollo RT6 is a purpose-built EV with a cost of around £21k, significantly lower than Western competitors.