Lyft, Baidu Plan Robotaxi Launches in UK, Germany 2026

U.S. ride-hailing company Lyft has partnered with China's Baidu to launch robotaxi services across Europe starting in 2026, initially targeting Germany and the UK pending regulatory approval. The rollout aims to scale to thousands of Baidu Apollo Go electric robotaxis operating on Lyft's platform in multiple European countries over the coming years, leveraging Lyft’s recent acquisition of European mobility app FreeNow, which operates in nine countries and over 180 cities. Under the partnership, Lyft will manage platform operations and customer service, while Baidu will provide autonomous vehicles and technical expertise, marking Baidu's first commercial entry into the European self-driving taxi market. This move is part of a broader trend of Chinese autonomous-driving companies expanding internationally, competing with other players like Uber, which is also preparing to launch robotaxi services in Europe in 2026. The UK government has accelerated its robotaxi timeline aiming for initial paid services by spring 2026, intensifying competition among ride-hailing firms to establish autonomous vehicle operations in Europe. For Lyft, this partnership represents a strategic expansion beyond North America and a bid to differentiate itself from competitors in the European market.