Lyft has partnered with China’s Baidu to deploy Baidu’s RT6 Apollo Go autonomous vehicles across Europe starting in 2026, beginning in Germany and the UK .
The service is expected to debut next year subject to regulatory approval, paving the way for thousands of Baidu-operated vehicles across the continent in the coming years. This collaboration also represents Baidu’s first commercial entry into the European autonomous vehicle market.
Baidu will supply its Apollo Go self-driving RT6 vehicles while Lyft manages customer operations and fleet logistics. The RT6 model is a fully‑electric, purpose‑built robotaxi that leverages Baidu’s six generations of road testing and the Apollo Autonomous Driving Foundation Model, featuring advanced safety redundancy and human‑machine interaction systems.
Baidu’s Apollo Go program already operates more than 1,000 autonomous vehicles globally across 15 cities and has completed over 11 million public rides, establishing its ability to scale from pilot zones to full operation.
The European rollout also benefits from Lyft’s recent acquisition of FREENOW, a mobility service operating in nine countries and over 180 cities. This strategic move grants Lyft established relationships with regulators and transportation operators in priority markets like Germany and the UK.
Lyft leaders emphasize that this robotaxi service complements its existing hybrid fleet strategy. Regulatory process is already underway. The UK government is fast‑tracking its robotaxi licensing with the goal of launching paying passenger services by spring 2026. Germany is expected to follow suit pending its own approval processes.
This partnership positions Lyft and Baidu to compete directly with other companies preparing European robotaxi launches, including Uber, Waymo, Wayve, Pony.ai, WeRide, and Momenta. Uber has recently forged multiple deals with autonomous vehicle tech providers to accelerate its own global robotaxi ambitions.
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