Lyft Plans Driverless Vehicle Deployment in UK, Germany in 2026

Lyft has announced a strategic partnership with Chinese AI firm Baidu to deploy Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicles in Europe, starting with the UK and Germany in 2026, pending regulatory approval. This move marks Lyft's first major international expansion, facilitated by its recent acquisition of the European mobility app FREENOW, enabling a hybrid network of autonomous and human-driven vehicles. Baidu's RT6 vehicles have already completed over 11 million rides globally, giving Lyft access to mature autonomous technology without the heavy R&D costs. This partnership positions Lyft to compete more aggressively with Uber in Europe's ride-hailing market, especially as Uber has formed multiple autonomous vehicle partnerships but has a more fragmented approach. The deployment of robotaxis could significantly reduce Lyft's operating costs and improve margins, potentially altering investor perception of Lyft's growth prospects. Meanwhile, Lyft and Uber both continue to dominate the American ride-share market, with Uber expanding into food delivery and Lyft increasing its focus on ridesharing and micromobility services.