Uber and Baidu-backed Apollo Go have agreed to launch fully driverless robotaxi services through the Uber app in London, with trials slated to commence later this year. Riders will be able to book autonomous vehicles directly, marking Uber’s first integration of third-party self-driving technology.

Apollo Go has reached over 20 million cumulative robotaxi rides and currently logs 300,000 driverless trips each week. The service has also expanded into South Korea and is testing in multiple international markets, demonstrating robust growth in autonomous mobility.

This partnership allows Uber to diversify its service offerings and potentially lower operating costs by incorporating self-driving vehicles into its network. Successful trials could pave the way for wider deployment and new revenue streams as Uber seeks to offset driver expenses.

Uber’s move positions it against incumbents like Waymo, which operates in 10 U.S. cities with over 200 million autonomous miles driven, and Tesla’s upcoming Cybercab plans. Analyst comparisons suggest robotaxi services offer lower fares but varying availability and wait times relative to traditional ride-hail.