Chinese technology giant Baidu has revealed intentions to bring autonomous taxis to British roads by 2026, partnering with ride-hailing service Lyft for its European expansion.
This development emerges whilst America implements restrictions on Chinese self-driving vehicle technology due to national security worries.
The internet search company, often referred to as "China's Google", announced on Monday its ambitions to conduct road trials of Apollo Go autonomous vehicles in both Britain and Germany.
Baidu anticipates that it could deploy thousands of driverless cars throughout Europe over the next few years.
REUTERS/PA
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This European push coincides with Washington's decision to prohibit Chinese autonomous driving and connected car software from 2027, citing concerns about potential cyber threats to automotive supply chains.
American authorities introduced these restrictions in January, with the Biden administration citing the need to protect automotive supply chains from cyber threats posed by foreign adversaries.
So far, the measures have continued under the first few months of President Trump's administration, The Telegraph noted.
The US Commerce Department highlighted specific vulnerabilities in autonomous vehicles, noting that their numerous microchips and internet-connected systems create "opportunities for data exfiltration and unauthorised vehicle manipulation".
Officials stated that China's involvement in America's connected vehicle supply chain poses "undue and unacceptable risks".
The ban reflects broader concerns about technological security, with Washington determining that self-driving cars' sophisticated systems could be exploited for surveillance or remote control purposes.
These restrictions will take effect from 2027, effectively blocking Chinese autonomous driving software from American roads.
British intelligence services have previously raised alarms about Chinese cyber operations targeting government personnel and parliamentarians.
Security concerns intensified in 2023 when Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, claimed he had been "reliably told" that a tracking device concealed in a microchip was discovered in a ministerial vehicle used by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
These incidents follow Britain's decision to exclude Huawei from the country's 5G infrastructure due to security considerations.
Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, warned: "It wasn't long ago we were seeing credible reports of ministerial cars hacked by China.
"The Government should act to protect Britain from exposure to Beijing's data harvesting and espionage, not expose them to more of it."
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Baidu currently operates autonomous ride-hailing services in Chinese cities, including Beijing and Wuhan. The company has previously tested its self-driving technology on Californian roads through agreements with the state's motor vehicle department.
The partnership forms part of Lyft's European expansion following its £150million acquisition of Freenow from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
Robin Li, Baidu's chairman, described the initiative as demonstrating their "commitment to making autonomous mobility accessible worldwide".
David Risher, Lyft's chief executive, praised Baidu's "extensive track record operating the world's largest autonomous ride-hailing service", suggesting this experience would bring "safety, reliability, and privacy to millions of Europeans".