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Wire · technology

Freenow and Baidu put RT6 robotaxis on London roads

Published

28 July 2026

Topic

technology

Sectors

Autonomous Vehicles

Geography

United Kingdom

Source

Read at automotiveworld.com

Verified

Fusion42 · 28 July 2026 · Fusion42 review

Freenow (Lyft) and Baidu Apollo Go have begun testing RT6 robotaxis in London with safety operators, with commercial passenger services planned for 2027. Regulatory approval from Transport for London and UK authorities is now the limiting factor, not vehicle readiness.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Autonomous Vehicles. Wire is Fusion42's founder-focused intelligence feed: each story is connected to the funds and startups it names — every one with a live profile on Raise or Scout — so founders can follow the capital and the momentum behind the headline rather than just the headline itself. Wire analysis is one of the live surfaces Arthur reasons over.

◆ The Wire takeaway

UK regulatory approval just became the binding constraint for commercial robotaxis, not the cars themselves. If you build safety systems, remote operation infrastructure, or liability insurance for driverless services, the London market opens in 2027 — provided Transport for London signs off.

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Topics

Autonomous Vehiclesrobotaxi-deploymentuk-regulationautonomous-vehicleslast-mile-mobility