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Lyft and Baidu enter London’s robotaxi battleground as testing begins

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39 minutes ago

July 28, 2026

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Chinese tech giant Baidu has started testing autonomous vehicles in London as part of its partnership with Lyft and Freenow, the German taxi and multi-mobility app that Lyft now owns. Baidu is the latest in a string of companies to test self-driving technology in the UK ahead of commercial robotaxi deployments.

The testing, which began Tuesday with human safety operators, comes nearly a year after the two companies struck a strategic partnership to deploy Baidu’s purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 robotaxi across key European markets through the Lyft platform. The vehicles will eventually be available through Freenow, which Lyft acquired in 2025 for about $197 million.

That deal gave Lyft a foothold in Europe’s ride-hailing market, where a handful of well-funded companies are now jockeying to be first to market with robotaxis.

London is particular is shaping up to be a key battleground in the region. In April, Waymo began testing its autonomous vehicles with human safety operators in the city. Uber and its self-driving tech partner, Wayve, also announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in London this year. That initial service — which customers can now sign up for on an interest list — will have human safety operators behind the wheel before fully driverless operations begin later.

Baidu and Freenow by Lyft (as the latter service is now called) said they expect to invite the public to hail their robotaxis in 2027. The companies, which didn’t provide a more detailed timeline, noted that the launch will depend on regulatory approval.

For now, dozens of test vehicles will operate within London’s borough of Brent. Lyft and Freenow said they continue discussions with safety and city officials, including Transport for London (TfL) and the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV). The UK government is in the process of creating autonomous vehicle regulations and opened applications in May for companies interested in an AV pilot program that lets companies test self-driving vehicles under government oversight.

When the service does launch, Freenow by Lyft said it will operate a hybrid network — employing the same language rival Uber has used — meaning human drivers operating taxis and private-hire vehicles will work alongside the robotaxis.

“As a platform with deep roots in the taxi industry, our priority is ensuring that autonomous technology supports the professional drivers who keep London moving,” Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, said in a statement.

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Related Topics:Baidu battleground Begins enter Londons Lyft robotaxi testing

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JUST IN: S&P Global to acquire majority stake in Agusto & Co.

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Plateau CBM Youths Pledge 1m Votes For Tinubu In 2027 Elections

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JUST IN: S&P Global to acquire majority stake in Agusto & Co.

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38 minutes ago

July 28, 2026

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S&P Global announced Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Agusto & Co., a leading Pan-African rating agency with operations in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Ghana.

The investment, a strategic step for both companies, will complement and support the growth strategy of the S&P Global Ratings division in Africa.

The company said in a statement that by combining S&P Global’s international expertise and resources with Agusto & Co.’s strong Pan-African presence and reputation for excellence, the partnership aims to expand market insights, strengthen credit transparency, and support market participants across the region.

“We are delighted to partner with Agusto & Co. to strengthen our domestic ratings presence across Africa,” said Yann Le Pallec, President, S&P Global Ratings. “This transaction underscores our commitment to supporting growth and transparency in local credit markets throughout the continent. Africa’s opportunity is extraordinary, and by combining our global expertise with Agusto & Co.’s deep local insights, together we can foster informed analysis, constructive market dialogue, and greater investor confidence both regionally and internationally.”

“This partnership is a transformational milestone for Agusto & Co. and African capital markets, fulfilling our late founder’s vision of affiliating with a leading global rating agency,” said Yinka Adelekan, Managing Director of Agusto & Co.

“For more than 30 years, we have built a trusted credit rating institution across Africa. By combining our deep Pan-African market knowledge and analytical independence with S&P Global Ratings’ global expertise, resources and affiliate network, we believe this partnership will create new opportunities, enhance value for market participants, and support the continued development of transparent and resilient credit markets across the continent.”

Agusto & Co. is a leading Pan-African credit rating agency with a strong presence in Nigeria and other key African markets, rating financial institutions, corporates and other entities. Following the transaction, Agusto & Co. will continue to operate as a separate ratings entity and issue its own credit ratings and methodologies in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

ALSO READ: Agusto & Co. projects 19% profit fall for Nigerian banks in 2025

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Subject to obtaining all required regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close during the second half of 2026.

The transaction is not expected to have a material impact on the financial results of S&P Global or S&P Global Ratings, the agency said.

Agusto & Co. was founded in 1992 by the late Nigerian economist and chartered accountant, Olabode (Bode) Agusto. It was established as the first credit rating agency in Nigeria.

Mr Agusto, who served as the firm’s first managing director for 11 years, died in October 2023.

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Plateau CBM Youths Pledge 1m Votes For Tinubu In 2027 Elections

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2 hours ago

July 28, 2026

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Youth leaders in Plateau State, under the aegis of City Boy Movement (CBM), have pledged to mobilise one million votes for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 General Elections.

The Plateau State Director of the City Boy Movement, Mr David Daser, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, cited confidence in the Tinubu administration’s policies and development initiatives.

Daser said the commitment was made during separate strategic meetings convened by the CBM with members of the State Working Committee and coordinators from the state’s 17 local government areas (LGAs).

He said that the meetings were organised to review the outcome of the movement’s recent national retreat and fine-tune strategies for grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 polls.

He said the engagements also aligned members with the “Operation Rock Solid” initiative, aimed at delivering one million votes for Tinubu’s re-election.

“I shared key takeaways from the recently concluded National Retreat, where we reviewed our direction as a movement and the responsibility before us.

“Together, we aligned with the Operation Rock Solid initiative, a statewide commitment to mobilise one million votes for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027,” he said.

Daser described the meetings as strategic planning sessions focused on strengthening the movement’s organisational structure and preparing members for effective grassroots mobilisation across Plateau.

The CBM director also commended the Federal Government’s expansion of the Nigerian Army through the creation of additional divisions.

According to him, the move will improve operational coverage, eliminate security blind spots and enhance the military’s capacity to respond swiftly to emerging security threats across the country.

He further highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects initiated by the Tinubu administration in Plateau, including the Akwanga-Jos-Gombe Road, Babban Lamba-Sharam Road, and the Mararaba Jama’a-Pankshin-Langtang-Mikang-Taraba Road.

Daser said that the projects are practical demonstrations of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to improving infrastructure and connectivity.

He also commended members of the State Working Committee and the 17 LGA coordinators for their dedication to the movement’s objectives.

“The passion, unity and commitment demonstrated by our members give me great confidence that together we will build a stronger and more effective City Boy Movement in Plateau State.

“It will contribute meaningfully to the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)