It’s no secret that AI will replace many professions, and taxi driving is high on that list. The recent news about Chinese tech companies moving into the European market confirms this isn’t a distant future—it’s happening now, and China is proving to be exceptionally good at AI-driven mobility.
The News: Baidu and Lyft Target Europe
The core development is a strategic partnership between Chinese tech giant Baidu and ride-hailing service Lyft. They are set to deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles (AVs) in Germany and the United Kingdom, with plans to launch as early as 2026. This isn’t a small pilot; the goal is to scale to a fleet of thousands of robotaxis across Europe.
This move marks a significant international expansion for Baidu, which has already established the world’s largest autonomous ride-hailing service, Apollo Go, with over 11 million completed rides across 15 cities in China.
Why Europe is the New Battleground
Baidu’s focus on Europe is a direct result of geopolitical shifts. The company has been effectively locked out of the American market, where a ban on Chinese driverless software is set to take effect in 2027 due to national security concerns. With the US market closed off, Europe—particularly the UK with its new enabling regulations for 2026—has become the primary target for expansion.
This creates an interesting dynamic: while Silicon Valley’s players like Tesla, Waymo, and Cruise have faced setbacks, fatal crashes, and slower-than-promised rollouts, their Chinese counterparts have scaled rapidly at home and are now aggressively pursuing global markets. As one analyst noted, “China’s top players are pushing hard into overseas markets, potentially gaining a foothold before US rivals can fully scale.”
The Inevitable Hurdles: Safety and Security
Despite the technological momentum, the road ahead is not without significant challenges.
Safety Record: The rapid expansion raises valid questions about safety. A Baidu-operated vehicle recently fell into a construction pit in Chongqing, and a separate crash involving a Xiaomi vehicle in driver-assist mode resulted in fatalities. These incidents highlight the immense responsibility and risk involved in deploying autonomous fleets.
Geopolitical Scrutiny: The influx of Chinese technology brings serious security concerns. US officials have warned about opportunities for “data exfiltration and unauthorised vehicle manipulation.” In the UK, critics fear risks similar to those posed by Huawei, citing the potential for surveillance through the vast sensor networks embedded in these vehicles.
The stage is set for a major shift in urban transportation. The technical execution by companies like Baidu is impressive, but their success in new markets will ultimately depend on navigating a complex web of regulatory approvals, public trust, and intense geopolitical scrutiny. The robotaxi revolution is here, and it’s forcing a global conversation about technology, security, and the future of our cities.