Lyft & Baidu to launch Euro robo-cabs in UK & Germany next year
Ride-hailing company Lyft and Chinese tech giant Baidu are set to launch autonomous ride-hailing services in the UK and Germany next year, marking their expansion into the European market. The two companies announced their joint venture on Monday, contingent on securing necessary regulatory approvals.
The service will deploy Baidu's Apollo autonomous vehicles, which are already operational in China. Notably, competitor Uber also intends to utilize Apollo technology for its robotaxi services in the Middle East. Lyft and Baidu anticipate scaling their fleet to thousands of vehicles across Europe in the years following the initial launch. Lyft's announcement referred to Baidu's vehicles as "its pioneering autonomous solution in the region," a phrasing that suggests the company may explore partnerships with other autonomous vehicle providers in the future.
The viability of Lyft's European expansion is supported by forthcoming regulatory frameworks. The UK, for instance, has already passed legislation that could allow autonomous vehicles on its roads by 2026. Similarly, Germany's autonomous vehicle strategy aims for robotaxi operations to commence in 2026, followed by the integration of autonomous cars into public transport services by 2027. The plan further envisions autonomous vehicles operating on German motorways by 2028, with a long-term goal of establishing them as a permanent component of a multimodal and interconnected mobility system by approximately 2030.
Lyft will facilitate these autonomous rides through FREENOW, a ride-hailing app it recently acquired. This move places Lyft in direct competition with Uber, which has also disclosed its own plans for European robotaxi operations, partnering with another Chinese autonomous driving company, Momenta.
A key question remains regarding the scope of operation, specifically whether these services will be permitted on all types of roads. This presents a significant mapping challenge, as evidenced by Asian ride-hailing giant Grab's experience, which necessitated the development of its own detailed maps due to the limitations of existing mapping data in charting the complex lanes and alleys of Asian megacities. Similar complexities could arise in navigating the unique road networks of Europe, from winding English country lanes to narrow cobbled streets in historic city centers.