Baidu and Lyft stated the partnership will lead to a significant leap ahead in autonomous mobility with European riders. | Supply: Lyft
Baidu Inc. this week partnered with Lyft Inc. to deploy its Apollo Go autonomous autos throughout European markets via the Lyft platform. Preliminary deployments are deliberate for Germany and the U.Okay. in 2026, pending regulatory approval. The businesses plan to scale the fleet to hundreds of autos throughout Europe within the following years.
“Our partnership with Lyft to deploy Apollo Go in Europe, beginning with Germany and the UK, is a big milestone in our world journey,” acknowledged Robin Li, co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Baidu.
“This collaboration represents our dedication to creating autonomous mobility accessible worldwide whereas working with native companions who perceive their communities,” he added. “By integrating Baidu’s cutting-edge autonomous driving expertise with Lyft’s platform attain and operational experience, we’re excited to ship safer, greener, and extra environment friendly mobility options to extra customers.”
Based in 2000 as a search engine enterprise, Baidu stated it presents a full synthetic intelligence stack of 4 layers, together with cloud infrastructure, the PaddlePaddle deep studying framework developed in home, its self-developed ERNIE basis fashions, and AI purposes. The Beijing-based firm‘s mobility initiatives embody the Apollo Go autonomous ride-hailing providers and Baidu Apollo’s self-driving methods, the Xiaodu sensible units powered by the DuerOS sensible assistant, and AI chips.
Lyft and Baidu proceed robotaxi deployments
Based in 2012, Lyft presents rideshare, taxis, non-public rent autos, automotive sharing, bikes, and scooters throughout North America and Europe. The San Francisco-based firm operates throughout 11 international locations and in practically 1,000 cities, and it helps bike sharing in 16 international locations.
Lyft plans to deploy robotaxis in Germany and the U.Okay. subsequent 12 months. It’ll function RT6 autos outfitted with Baidu Apollo Go’s sensor suite, 10-layer security redundancy structure, and clever interplay design. Each firms stated they’ll work carefully with European regulators and stakeholders to make sure autos meet all obligatory security requirements and regulatory necessities.
With a worldwide footprint spanning 15 cities and cumulative rides surpassing 11 million, Apollo Go has deployed greater than 1,000 autonomous autos (AVs) for ride-hailing providers for the general public. Based in 2000, Baidu partnered with Uber earlier this 12 months to deploy its Apollo Go AVs on the Uber platform throughout a number of world markets exterior of the U.S. and mainland China.
Lyft additionally isn’t a stranger to the robotaxi house. In November 2024, it partnered with Mobileye to convey AVs to the Lyft community. By means of this partnership, Lyft stated it might scale rideshare platform out there to all autos with Mobileye’s self-driving expertise.
Companions to give attention to 4 areas
The businesses stated the partnership focuses on 4 key areas to remodel European mobility. The primary is superior AV expertise deployment. Baidu stated the Apollo Go’s purpose-built, fully-electric RT6 autos are designed from the bottom up for rideshare operations. It leverages the Apollo ADFM (Autonomous Driving Basis Mannequin) and 6 generations of real-world testing.
When launched, RT6 rides might be out there for riders immediately via the Lyft ecosystem, providing enhanced security options and constant service high quality, Baidu claimed.
Subsequent, the businesses stated they plan to deploy AVs at scale in Europe. With operations masking greater than 3,000 sq. km (1,158.3 sq. mi.) in Wuhan, China, alone, Apollo Go has demonstrated the flexibility to scale from check operations to full business deployment throughout main metropolitan areas. Baidu stated this creates a powerful basis for European deployment.
The businesses additionally plan to additional develop their strategic partnership. Lyft stated it is going to personal the operational worth chain and market whereas Baidu offers autos, expertise validation, and complete technical assist. Lyft stated this method builds on its technique to be the platform and fleet supervisor of selection as fleet homeowners and expertise suppliers scale autonomous operations.
Lastly, the businesses stated they hope to attain European market integration. Lyft will function Baidu’s first European rideshare associate, utilizing its acquisition of FREENOW — which operates in 9 European international locations and over 180 cities — to speed up AV deployment. FREENOW’s established presence in Germany and the U.Okay., mixed with its deep relationships with native regulators and taxi operators, serves as a key enabler for deployment in these precedence markets, Baidu stated.
