Baidu Shares Climb on UK Robotaxi Deals with Uber and Lyft
Chinese tech giant to deploy its Apollo Go autonomous vehicles in London next year, marking a significant European expansion for its driverless car unit.
Baidu Inc. shares advanced after the Chinese technology company announced separate partnerships with Uber and Lyft to test its autonomous robotaxis in the UK, a major push into the European market for its expanding Apollo Go autonomous driving platform.
In morning trading, Baidu's US-listed shares (BIDU) rose 2.76% to $123.82. The company's stock had already gained 1.6% in Hong Kong following the news.
The deals will see Baidu's Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis deployed in London for testing starting in the first half of 2026. This move could pave the way for commercial services by the end of that year, significantly broadening the global footprint of one of the world's largest autonomous vehicle operators. Uber and Lyft will integrate Baidu's driverless vehicles into their respective ride-hailing platforms, with Lyft's operations running through its Freenow platform in the UK.
This expansion into a right-hand-drive market is a notable milestone for Baidu, which has been a frontrunner in China's robotaxi race. The company's Apollo Go service has already completed over 17 million rides across 22 cities in China, and the company has previously guided that it expects the unit to become profitable in 2025.
For Uber and Lyft, the partnerships represent a strategic move to incorporate autonomous vehicle technology without the massive overhead of developing it in-house. Uber has been actively forming partnerships with various robotaxi companies, a strategy seen by analysts as a way to mitigate the competitive threat from autonomous-focused rivals like Waymo and Tesla.
However, the rise of autonomous technology presents a more complex picture for the ride-sharing industry. While Uber's diversified approach is viewed favorably, Lyft's more concentrated focus has drawn some concern. In a recent note, Wedbush downgraded Lyft to "Underperform", citing the risks of disruption from autonomous vehicles.
Baidu's Apollo Go unit is a key part of the company's long-term strategy to diversify beyond its core internet search business. The company has invested heavily in artificial intelligence and deep learning, with autonomous driving being a major area of focus. The UK partnerships were met with positive sentiment from some analysts. JPMorgan recently raised its price target for Baidu, reflecting confidence in the company's AI ecosystem and the global potential of Apollo Go.
The tie-ups with Uber and Lyft will see dozens of Baidu's all-electric RT6 vehicles operating in London. These vehicles are designed for fully driverless operation and are a key component of Baidu's ambition to create a scalable and profitable autonomous ride-hailing network. The entry into the UK market will be a crucial test of Baidu's technology and operational capabilities in a new regulatory and traffic environment.
The successful deployment of robotaxis in a major European capital could accelerate the adoption of autonomous vehicles globally, and further solidify Baidu's position as a leading player in the industry. As the 2026 trials approach, all eyes will be on London to see how Baidu, Uber, and Lyft navigate the next chapter of urban mobility.