Lyft and Baidu announce major partnership to bring autonomous ride-hail service to the UK and Germany by 2026
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 5
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 6
Baidu and Lyft have announced a strategic partnership to roll out autonomous vehicles (AVs) across Europe, beginning with the UK and Germany in 2026.
The agreement will see Lyft utilise Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous technology on its platform, initially deploying Apollo Go’s sixth-generation AVs pending regulatory approval. The collaboration aims to scale the fleet to thousands of vehicles across Europe in the following years.
Baidu’s Apollo Go is recognised as one of the leaders in autonomous driving, already operating in 15 cities worldwide. It has successfully completed over 11 million rides, running more than 1,000 AVs globally.
Robin Li, Co-founder and CEO of Baidu, described the partnership as a major step towards international expansion, emphasising the company’s commitment to making AV technology accessible globally. He highlighted the importance of working with local partners to tailor mobility solutions that are safe, efficient and environmentally friendly.
David Risher, CEO of Lyft, emphasised customer experience as the focus of this partnership. He pointed out Baidu’s proven expertise in AV operations, stressing the advantages of safety, reliability and privacy AV technology brings to Lyft’s customers.
Risher said: "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."
