Lyft Partners with Baidu to Deploy Autonomous Rides Across Europe

Lyft plans to deploy Baidu Apollo Go’s RT6 autonomous vehicles initially in Germany and the United Kingdom starting in 2026

Baidu, Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU and HKEX: 9888), a leading AI company with a strong Internet foundation, and Lyft, Inc. (NASDAQ: LYFT), one of North America's and Europe's largest transportation networks, today announced a strategic partnership for Lyft to deploy Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicles (AVs) across key European markets through the Lyft platform. This collaboration marks a transformative milestone in Baidu's international expansion and further positions Lyft as a leading AV platform in Europe.

Initial deployments are planned for Germany and the United Kingdom in 2026 pending regulatory approval, with the fleet scaling to thousands of vehicles across Europe in the following years. As part of the agreement, Lyft will deploy Baidu Apollo Go’s sixth-generation vehicles as its pioneering autonomous solution in the region.

"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," said Robin Li, Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO of Baidu. "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."

"Our partnership with Baidu is all about creating a great customer experience," said David Risher, Lyft CEO. "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. We are committed to working with local regulators to ensure we deploy these vehicles in a thoughtful way that benefits everyone."

Baidu’s Apollo Go brings operational expertise and advanced autonomous driving technology to the partnership. With its global footprint spanning 15 cities and cumulative rides surpassing 11 million, Apollo Go currently deploys over 1,000 operational AVs globally. This collaboration represents a major leap forward in delivering world-class autonomous mobility to European riders.

Building Europe's Leading Autonomous Network

The partnership focuses on four key areas to transform European mobility:

• Advanced AV Technology Deployment: Apollo Go’s fully-electric RT6 vehicles are designed for rideshare operations, leveraging the Apollo Autonomous Driving Foundation Model (ADFM) and six generations of real-world testing. RT6 rides will be available through the Lyft ecosystem, offering enhanced safety features and consistent service quality.
• Proven Scale and Operational Excellence: With operations covering over 3,000 square kilometers in Wuhan alone and over 11 million completed rides globally, Apollo Go has shown the ability to scale from test operations to full commercial deployment across major cities.
• Strategic Partnership: Lyft will own the operational value chain and marketplace while Baidu provides vehicles, technology validation, and comprehensive technical support. This builds on Lyft's strategy to be the platform and fleet manager of choice as fleet owners and technology providers expand AV operations.
• European Market Integration: Lyft will serve as Baidu's first European rideshare partner, leveraging the acquisition of FREENOW (operating in nine European countries and over 180 cities) to accelerate AV deployment. FREENOW's presence in Germany and the UK, and relationships with local regulators and taxi operators, will be key enablers for rollout.

Implementation and Next Steps

Lyft will begin deployments pending regulatory approval in Germany and the UK in 2026, operating RT6 vehicles equipped with Baidu Apollo Go's sensor suite, 10-layer safety redundancy architecture, and intelligent interaction design. Both companies will work closely with European regulators and stakeholders to ensure vehicles meet all safety and regulatory requirements.

With Europe's strong transport infrastructure and growing demand for green mobility, this partnership aims to establish Europe as a global showcase for autonomous ride-hailing services and set a new standard for safety-focused, efficient, and sustainable urban mobility.

About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on the NASDAQ under "BIDU" and HKEX under "9888."

About Lyft
Founded in 2012, Lyft operates rideshare, taxis, car sharing, bikes, and scooters across North America and Europe. Lyft operates in nearly 1,000 cities across 11 countries and supports bikesharing in 16 countries.

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“Lyft Partners with Baidu to Deploy Autonomous Rides Across Europe”, Lyft News, 04.08.2025, [Retrieved on 14.08.25, https://www.lyft.com/blog/posts/lyft-partners-with-baidu-to-deploy-autonomous-rides-across-europe]