Chinese tech company Baidu has announced plans to launch driverless taxis in the UK and Germany in 2026 in collaboration with Lyft.
Plan for Driverless Taxis in Europe
Baidu aims to launch its driverless taxis in the UK and Germany through a new deal with Lyft. Both companies stated they intend to expand their robotaxi fleet to "thousands" across Europe in the coming years, although they still need regulatory approval.
The vehicles won't hit the streets until the government agencies in those countries provide their approval.
Baidu and Lyft Partnership
Lyft has entered the European market by finalizing its acquisition of FreeNow, a ride-hailing company based in Germany. FreeNow already operates in over 150 cities across nine countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, which gives Lyft immediate access to a significant customer base and infrastructure.
The agreement between Baidu and Lyft allows the latter to enter the self-driving sector in Europe without having to develop the technology itself.
Baidu's Global Ambitions
The launch in Europe will not be Baidu's first international partnership. Last month, the company signed an agreement with Uber, enabling Baidu to utilize its self-driving vehicles on Uber's platform outside the U.S. and mainland China, focusing mainly on Asia and the Middle East.
In China, Baidu already operates a working robotaxi service called Apollo Go, which has been running since 2021, allowing people to hail these cars via an app.
Baidu and Lyft seek to carve their niche in the driverless vehicle market in Europe, although they can only operate after obtaining necessary approvals from local authorities.
