Lyft's ambitions for the European market are becoming clearer by the minute. Visit acquisition of Freenow made official last April promised the VTC platform a solid network on the old continent. And now Lyft is sending a promising technological message to European users. Lyft plans to launch autonomous vehicles designed by the Chinese BaiduIn this case, the RT6 model from Apollo Go.
Lyft has targeted two strategic markets in Europe for this launch, which is expected to take place from 2026 : l'Germany and the United Kingdom. What about France? If the American giant's ambitions are to be believed, other neighbouring countries should also see the arrival of these autonomous VTCs. After all, Lyft is planning to "build Europe's first autonomous network". What's more, "the fleet is expected to grow to several thousand vehicles across Europe over the next few years", according to information released by Lyft in early August.
" Our partnership with Baidu aims to create an exceptional customer experience "promises David Risher. The Lyft CEO continued: " With extensive experience in operating the world's largest autonomous VTC service, we can offer all the benefits of autonomous vehicles - safety, reliability and privacy - to millions of Europeans. This is part of our hybrid network approach, where autonomous vehicles and human drivers work together to offer passengers customer-focused options. Most importantly, we are committed to working hand-in-hand with local regulators to ensure that these vehicles are deployed in their communities in a smart and considered way, for the benefit of all. ". This is an important point, given that Lyft has specified that the launch in Germany and the UK will take place "subject to regulatory approval".
Lyft and Baidu are therefore highlighting the reliability of the product to convince the relevant authorities. " With operations covering more than 3,000 square kilometres in Wuhan alone and more than 11 million journeys made worldwide, Apollo Go has demonstrated its ability to move from the test phase to full commercial deployment in major metropolitan areas, creating a solid base for its roll-out in Europe. "say the two partners. See you in 2026?
