Artificial intelligence company Baidu and mobility platform Lyft are partnering to roll out autonomous rides across Europe.
Lyft will deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles (AVs) across key European markets through the Lyft platform. This collaboration marks a milestone in Baidu’s international expansion.
Making autonomous mobility accessible worldwide
Initial deployments are planned for Germany and the UK in 2026 pending regulatory approval, with the fleet scaling to thousands of vehicles across Europe in the following years. As part of the agreement, Lyft will deploy Baidu Apollo Go’s sixth-generation vehicles as its autonomous solution in the region.
“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.
“This collaboration represents our commitment to making autonomous mobility accessible worldwide while working with local partners who understand their communities. 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.”
The purpose-built, fully electric RT6 vehicles are designed from the ground-up for rideshare operations, utilising the Apollo ADFM (Autonomous Driving Foundation Model) and six generations of real-world testing. When launched, RT6 rides will be available for riders directly through the Lyft ecosystem, offering enhanced safety features and consistent service quality.
With operations covering over 3,000 square kilometres in Wuhan alone and more than 11 million completed rides globally, Apollo Go has demonstrated the ability to scale from test operations to full commercial deployment across major metropolitan areas, creating a strong foundation for European deployment.
Lyft will own the operational value chain and marketplace while Baidu provides vehicles, technology validation, and comprehensive technical support. Lyft will serve as Baidu’s first European rideshare partner, leveraging the acquisition of Freenow (operating in nine European countries and over 180 cities) to accelerate AV deployment. Freenow’s established presence in Germany and the UK, combined with its deep relationships with local regulators and taxi operators, serves as a key enabler for deployment in these priority markets.
“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,” said David Risher, Lyft CEO.
“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.”
Lyft will begin deployments pending regulatory approval in Germany and the UK in 2026, operating RT6 vehicles equipped with Baidu Apollo Go’s industry-leading sensor suite, 10-layer safety redundancy architecture, and intelligent interaction design. Both companies will work closely with European regulators and stakeholders to ensure vehicles meet all necessary safety standards and regulatory requirements.
Source: smartcitiesworld.net