Robotaxi trial begins in Brent
Apollo Go driverless cars are being tested with safety drivers initially.
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Headline overstates imminent passenger access; body hedges with 'hoped' and 'as soon as this year'.
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A trial of Apollo Go driverless cars has begun on the streets of Brent. The initiative is a collaboration between the minicab app company Freenow by Lyft and Chinese technology firm Baidu.
During this initial phase, human drivers will be present in the vehicles to take over driving duties if necessary. Freenow by Lyft and Baidu anticipate that self-driving taxis could be available to passengers by 2027.
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Broader London robotaxi plans
Several other companies are also advancing robotaxi services in the capital. Uber, in partnership with UK technology firm Wayve, aims to begin public robotaxi journeys in London within the next few months. Wayve has stated its vehicles are ready for public use following extensive testing.
Separately, Waymo, a subsidiary of Google-owner Alphabet, is currently testing a fleet of 100 driverless taxis on London roads as it prepares to launch commercial services.
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Safety concerns raised previously
Robotaxi trials have faced scrutiny. In May, calls were made to suspend a Waymo trial also conducted in Brent. These calls followed concerns about a perceived lack of stakeholder support and unresolved safety issues. The Brent Green Party claimed at the time that the autonomous vehicles did not meet minimum safety standards after an incident where a car drove into a police cordon.
Thomas Zimmermann, chief executive of Freenow by Lyft, stated that the company's priority is ensuring autonomous technology supports professional drivers. He added that integrating Baidu's Apollo Go vehicles into the Freenow ecosystem would offer Londoners more sustainable travel choices, encouraging shared mobility over private car ownership.
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