Autonomous taxis imported from China by Lyft, a main competitor of Uber, make their way to Europe.
Lyft and Baidu Partner to Introduce Autonomous Taxis in Europe
In a significant move for the ride-hailing industry, Lyft, a US-based ride-hailing service provider currently available in the US and some cities in Canada, has announced plans to introduce thousands of autonomous Chinese taxis to Europe. This ambitious expansion is made possible through the acquisition of FreeNow, one of the largest mobility apps in Europe, from BMW and Mercedes-Benz for around $175 million in 2025 [1].
FreeNow, which operates in over 180 cities across nine European countries, provides Lyft with an immediate operational foothold in Europe. This strategic move is a crucial platform for the introduction of autonomous ride services [2].
The partnership with Baidu, a Chinese tech giant, will see the deployment of Baidu's advanced autonomous RT6 electric vehicles under the Apollo Go program. The initial launches are planned for 2026, subject to regulatory approval, in Germany and the UK [3].
The partnership aims for scale over subsequent years, with aspirations to operate thousands of driverless taxis across Europe eventually [3]. Lyft will manage fleet logistics and customer service, while Baidu supplies the vehicles and autonomous driving technology [4].
Baidu brings extensive autonomous driving experience to the table, having operated over 11 million autonomous rides across multiple Chinese cities since 2021 [3][4]. The European deployment will focus on safety, regulatory compliance, and sustainable urban mobility, taking advantage of FreeNow’s strong local market ties and infrastructure presence [2][4].
Meanwhile, Uber is also attempting to become a platform for self-driving cars from various developers. The launch of these autonomous cars in Europe is pending regulatory approval and is set to occur on a large scale after the acquisition of FreeNow by Lyft [5].
This initiative marks a foundational step enabling the introduction of Baidu's autonomous taxis in Europe by 2026, targeting a substantial scaling of autonomous ride-hailing services in the region over the next several years [2][3][4].
References: [1] TechCrunch (2025). Lyft Acquires FreeNow, Expanding to Europe. [online] Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/01/lyft-acquires-freenow-expanding-to-europe/ [2] Reuters (2025). Lyft, Baidu Partner to Bring Autonomous Taxis to Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lyft-baidu-europe-autonomous-idUSKBN2BZ01H [3] The Verge (2025). Lyft and Baidu Announce Partnership for Autonomous Taxis in Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.theverge.com/2025/01/01/lyft-baidu-partnership-europe-autonomous-taxis [4] Financial Times (2025). Lyft and Baidu to Launch Autonomous Taxis in Europe. [online] Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/6b36c6b4-786d-4e8d-8164-4e67351c436f [5] Bloomberg (2025). Uber Eyes Self-Driving Car Partnerships. [online] Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-01/uber-eyes-self-driving-car-partnerships
- The ambitious expansion of Lyft into Europe, through the acquisition of FreeNow, will no doubt have a significant impact on the automotive industry, as it paves the way for the introduction of thousands of autonomous Chinese taxis.
- The partnership between Lyft and Baidu in the field of technology is expected to revolutionize the ride-hailing business, with Baidu's advanced autonomous RT6 electric vehicles set to hit European roads in 2026.
- The finance sector will play a crucial role in this endeavor, as investments are made to scale autonomous ride services across Europe, transforming the landscape of transportation in the region.
