Global giants Baidu and Lyft have announced a major partnership to deploy autonomous ride-hailing vehicles in Europe, with launches in the UK and Germany targeted for 2026.
The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, will see China-headquartered Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles integrated into the Lyft platform, marking the company’s first significant international deployment outside Asia.
The fleet is expected to scale into the thousands in the years following initial rollout.
One of the world’s most prominent AI companies, Baidu already operates over 1,000 autonomous vehicles globally across 15 cities and has delivered more than 11m public rides via its Apollo Go platform.
The NASDAQ and HKEX-listed company sees the collaboration as a key step in bringing its technology to new global markets.
“Our partnership with Lyft to deploy Apollo Go in Europe, starting with Germany and the United Kingdom, is a significant milestone in our global journey,” said Robin Li, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu.
“By integrating Baidu’s cutting-edge autonomous driving technology with Lyft’s platform reach and operational expertise, we’re excited to deliver safer, greener and more efficient mobility solutions to more users.”
Lyft CEO, David Risher, added: “Our partnership with Baidu is all about creating a great customer experience. Their extensive track record operating the world’s largest autonomous ride-hailing service means we can bring all the benefits of AVs – safety, reliability and privacy – to millions of Europeans.
“It’s part of our hybrid network approach, where AVs and human drivers work together to provide customer-obsessed options for riders.
“And importantly, we’re committed to working hand-in-hand with local regulators to ensure we deploy these vehicles in their communities in a smart, thoughtful way that benefits everyone.”
Operating in nearly 1,000 cities across North America and Europe, Lyft’s services span rideshare, taxis, private hire vehicles, car sharing, bikes and scooters.
The San Francisco-based firm will manage the customer-facing platform and day-to-day operations, while Baidu provides its fully electric RT6 autonomous vehicles, as well as technology validation and technical support.
A key enabler of this strategy is its recent acquisition of London-based taxi company FREENOW, which operates in over 180 cities across nine European countries.
FREENOW’s existing presence in Germany and the UK, along with strong ties to local regulators and taxi operators, is expected to help accelerate deployment in these markets.