United States, 4 July 2025: In a bold step towards transforming Europe’s mobility landscape, Lyft and Baidu have announced a strategic partnership to bring autonomous electric ride-hailing to the region. Starting in 2026, Baidu’s all-electric RT6 robotaxis from its Apollo Go program are set to hit the streets of the UK and Germany, subject to final regulatory clearance, marking a pivotal step in autonomous mobility across Europe.

This collaboration marks Baidu’s formal entry into the European market and strengthens Lyft’s ambitions to expand its autonomous vehicle (AV) operations. The partnership aims to expand into a continent-wide fleet of thousands of autonomous vehicles in the coming years.

As part of the agreement, Lyft will integrate Baidu’s sixth-generation RT6 robotaxi, a purpose-built, fully electric autonomous vehicle, into its ride-hailing platform. The RT6 comes equipped with Baidu’s latest Apollo ADFM (Autonomous Driving Foundation Model), a multi-layer safety architecture, and real-time intelligent interaction systems, all designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and rider experience.

In an official press release by Lyft, Robin Li, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Baidu, stated, "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.

"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."

For Lyft, this partnership reinforces its AV strategy, enabling it to offer fully electric autonomous rides across Europe while maintaining control over the operational marketplace. Baidu will provide the vehicle fleet, technical validation, and ongoing support.

This aligns with Lyft’s hybrid network model, where human-driven and autonomous vehicles work side by side to optimise service levels.David Risher, Lyft CEO, stated, "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."

The upcoming European rollout will also benefit from Lyft’s 2025 acquisition of FREENOW, a multi-modal mobility platform operating in over 180 cities across nine countries. FREENOW’s deep market knowledge, established infrastructure, and regulatory ties in the UK and Germany are expected to be critical in enabling a smooth first phase of deployment.

With this high-profile collaboration, Baidu and Lyft are positioning themselves at the forefront of Europe’s autonomous and electric mobility revolution. As regulators, infrastructure, and public trust evolve, this partnership could accelerate the shift towards greener, driverless transport solutions across major UK and European cities, potentially reshaping how millions commute in the coming years.