Baidu and Lyft to Introduce Autonomous Taxi Service Across Europe by 2026
In a significant move for the autonomous vehicle industry, U.S. ride-hailing company Lyft and Chinese tech giant Baidu have formed a strategic partnership to bring Baidu's sixth-generation Apollo Go RT6 autonomous vehicles to Europe. The rollout, which is expected to start in Germany and the United Kingdom in 2026, is subject to regulatory approval from the respective European authorities[1][2][3].
The partnership marks Baidu's first entry into the European autonomous taxi market and is a milestone in both companies’ efforts to expand autonomous electric ride-hailing services internationally[3][5]. The RT6, a purpose-built, fully electric autonomous vehicle, features Baidu’s sixth-generation Apollo Autonomous Driving Foundation Model (ADFM), multi-layer safety systems, and real-time intelligent interactions[1][3].
Lyft, which recently finalized its acquisition of FreeNow, a German-based ride-hailing platform, will manage the operational side of the service, including fleet logistics and customer interaction[4]. Customers will be able to book rides via Lyft’s app, which will integrate Baidu’s RT6 robotaxis seamlessly[1][3][4].
Baidu, on the other hand, will supply the autonomous vehicles and provide technical support for the service[3]. The partnership aims to scale over time, with a goal of operating thousands of driverless vehicles across multiple European countries[1][2][3].
FreeNow, which has a presence in over 150 cities across nine European countries, will provide an immediate foothold for the partnership in Europe[4]. Baidu has already logged over 11 million autonomous rides in 15 cities across China, where it has been operating its Apollo Go robotaxi service since 2021[3].
The deployment of these vehicles in Europe is a critical step for both companies, as they aim to expand their autonomous electric ride-hailing services globally[3][5]. The companies will collaborate closely with European regulators to meet local compliance and safety requirements[1][2][3][4].
Interestingly, Baidu has also announced a similar partnership with Uber, targeting markets in the Middle East and Asia[6]. This move indicates a growing trend among tech companies to collaborate and share resources to expand their autonomous vehicle services across the globe.
In conclusion, the partnership between Lyft and Baidu represents a significant step forward for the autonomous vehicle industry in Europe. Pending regulatory approval, Lyft will offer autonomous robotaxi services on its platform using Baidu’s RT6 vehicles in Germany and the UK, with the intention to grow a large-scale fleet across Europe thereafter[1][2][3].
References: [1] Lyft and Baidu Announce Strategic Partnership to Bring Autonomous Robotaxis to Europe - TechCrunch, link [2] Baidu and Lyft to Collaborate on Autonomous Vehicles in Europe - Reuters, link [3] Lyft and Baidu Partner to Deploy Autonomous Robotaxis in Europe - CNET, link [4] Lyft Acquires FreeNow, Expanding its European Presence - The Verge, link [5] Baidu and Lyft to Bring Autonomous Vehicles to Europe - Bloomberg, link [6] Baidu and Uber Announce Partnership for Autonomous Vehicles in Middle East and Asia - ZDNet, link
The strategic partnership between Lyft and Baidu signifies Baidu's venture into the European autonomous taxi market, marking a milestone in their endeavor to broaden autonomous electric ride-hailing services globally. The rollout of Baidu's sixth-generation Apollo Go RT6 autonomous vehicles in Germany and the United Kingdom, expected in 2026, also involves technology collaboration with the automotive industry, particularly in the realm of automotive technology.
