Articles tagged with "Lyft"
Uber and Lyft to test Baidu robotaxis in London next year, joining Waymo
Uber and Lyft have announced plans to begin testing Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxis in London in 2026, joining existing autonomous vehicle operators Waymo and local startup Wayve. Lyft CEO David Risher confirmed the move on social media, while Uber detailed its intention to start testing in the first half of 2026 as part of its partnership with Baidu, initially announced in July. This expansion marks a significant step in the companies’ efforts to establish autonomous ride-hailing services in major cities globally. These developments reflect a broader trend of collaboration between ride-hailing giants and autonomous vehicle technology providers. Both Uber and Lyft have formed multiple partnerships with companies like Baidu and Waymo to accelerate the deployment of robotaxis worldwide. The London rollout will be among the first major European tests for Baidu’s autonomous vehicles, highlighting the growing international competition and innovation in the robotaxi market.
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxisBaidu-Apollo-GoUberLyftWaymoLyft CEO: Robotaxis Are Not Replacing Human Drivers Anytime Soon - CleanTechnica
Lyft CEO David Risher expressed skepticism about the near-term widespread adoption of robotaxis, stating at the Web Summit in Lisbon that the technology, regulations, and consumer readiness are not yet aligned for mass deployment. He predicted that even by 2030, robotaxis would account for less than 10% of Lyft’s business. Risher highlighted challenges such as the technology’s current limitations in adverse weather conditions, regulatory hurdles, and a lack of strong consumer demand, noting that many riders may prefer human drivers for assistance or comfort. Additionally, Risher pointed out significant cost barriers for robotaxi operations. Unlike the current model where human drivers bear vehicle maintenance, fueling, cleaning, and depreciation costs, Lyft would have to cover these expenses for robotaxis. He estimated that robotaxi vehicles currently cost between $250,000 and $300,000 each—roughly ten times the price of typical cars used in ride-hailing—making it financially challenging to offset these costs without human drivers. Overall, R
robotrobotaxiautonomous-vehiclesself-driving-carstransportation-technologyLyftmobility-innovationWaymo Diversifies in Nashville with Lyft - CleanTechnica
Waymo is expanding its robotaxi services to Nashville, marking a shift from its usual partnership with Uber to collaborating with Lyft. This strategic move allows Waymo to avoid reliance on a single ride-hailing platform and fosters competition between Uber and Lyft for its business. In Nashville, Waymo’s fully autonomous rides will initially be accessible via the Waymo app, with plans to integrate Lyft’s app later as the service grows. Lyft’s fleet management expertise, particularly through its Flexdrive subsidiary, is a key factor in this partnership. Waymo has driven over 100 million fully autonomous miles and demonstrated that its robotaxis are safer than average human drivers. The company plans to launch fully autonomous operations in Nashville in the coming months and open the service to the public next year. Local and company leaders, including Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Lyft CEO David Risher, and Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential to enhance transportation options and economic growth in the region.
robotautonomous-vehiclesWaymorobotaxiride-hailingLyfttransportation-technologyLyft and Waymo are partnering to bring robotaxis to Nashville
Waymo and Lyft have announced a partnership to launch a robotaxi service in Nashville by 2026. Waymo will begin testing its all-electric, autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in the Nashville area soon and plans to open the service to the public next year. This expansion is part of Waymo’s broader strategy to grow its robotaxi operations beyond its initial market in Phoenix to multiple cities including Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Dallas, and Denver. The deal also signals Waymo’s shift from being solely an operator of autonomous vehicles to becoming a technology provider, collaborating with ride-hailing companies to manage fleet operations. The Nashville partnership mirrors Waymo’s existing arrangement with Uber in Atlanta and Austin, where Waymo handles vehicle testing and roadside support while the ride-hailing partner manages fleet services such as maintenance and charging. However, a key difference in Nashville is that customers will initially hail robotaxis directly through the Waymo app, with plans to integrate autonomous vehicle dispatch on the
roboticsautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxielectric-vehiclestransportation-technologyWaymoLyftLyft and May Mobility launch robotaxis in Atlanta
Lyft and May Mobility have launched a pilot robotaxi service in Atlanta, allowing riders to hail autonomous vehicles via the Lyft app. This marks the first commercial deployment in their partnership and represents Lyft’s latest effort to establish a foothold in the competitive robotaxi market, where rivals like Uber and Waymo have already introduced fully driverless rides in the city. The initial rollout features a small fleet of hybrid-electric Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS vehicles operating during weekday daytime hours in Midtown Atlanta, with human safety operators present who may take control if necessary. Lyft and May Mobility plan to gradually expand the service to more vehicles, extended hours, and additional markets over time. The Atlanta launch follows Lyft’s recent announcement to introduce robotaxis in Europe next year and plans for a Dallas deployment in 2026, signaling a broader strategy to scale autonomous vehicle services. However, Lyft’s robotaxi ventures have faced challenges, including a previous partnership in Las Vegas that ended when the partner company folded. Meanwhile, May
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaximobilitytransportation-technologyself-driving-carsLyftLyft & Apollo Go to Go After Europe - CleanTechnica
Baidu’s autonomous driving division, Apollo Go, is expanding its robotaxi services into Europe through a strategic partnership with Lyft, aiming to launch in Germany and the UK in 2026. This move follows Apollo Go’s successful rollout of robotaxi services across China and reflects a similar approach to Waymo’s collaborations with ride-hailing companies like Uber in new markets. By leveraging Lyft’s existing ride-hailing network, Apollo Go intends to accelerate its market entry and scale operations efficiently, planning to deploy several thousand 6th-generation robotaxis on European roads over the coming years. Robin Li, Baidu’s co-founder and CEO, highlighted this collaboration as a significant milestone in Apollo Go’s globalization strategy. The partnership underscores the growing trend of combining autonomous vehicle technology with established ride-hailing platforms to facilitate broader adoption and operational expansion. While Apollo Go recently faced challenges with a robotaxi incident in China, the company remains committed to advancing its autonomous mobility services internationally, signaling strong confidence in the future of robotaxi
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiLyftApollo-GoBaidutransportation-technologyLyft partners with Baidu to deploy autonomous vehicles in Europe - The Robot Report
Baidu and Lyft have announced a strategic partnership to deploy Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles (AVs) across European markets, starting with Germany and the U.K. in 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The collaboration aims to scale the fleet to thousands of vehicles throughout Europe in subsequent years. Baidu will provide its advanced autonomous driving technology, including the fully electric RT6 robotaxi equipped with Apollo Go’s sensor suite and safety architecture, while Lyft will leverage its extensive rideshare platform and operational expertise. Both companies emphasize working closely with European regulators to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards. This partnership marks a significant milestone in expanding autonomous mobility globally, combining Baidu’s AI and self-driving capabilities with Lyft’s market reach. Baidu’s Apollo Go service has already deployed over 1,000 AVs across 15 cities with more than 11 million cumulative rides, demonstrating scalability from test operations to commercial deployment. Lyft, which operates in nearly 1,000 cities across 11 countries
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxiBaidu-ApolloLyftAImobility-technologyLyft and China’s Baidu look to bring robotaxis to Europe next year
Lyft has announced a strategic partnership with Chinese tech giant Baidu to bring Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous vehicles to several European markets, targeting launches in Germany and the United Kingdom in 2026, subject to regulatory approval. Baidu’s RT6 robotaxis, equipped with its Apollo Go self-driving system, will be integrated into Lyft’s ride-hailing app, exemplifying Lyft’s “hybrid network approach” that combines autonomous vehicles (AVs) with human drivers to enhance rider options. This move marks a significant expansion for Lyft, which has historically focused on the U.S. market. Earlier in 2025, Lyft entered the European market by acquiring the German multi-mobility app FREENOW from BMW and Mercedes-Benz Mobility, enabling its expansion beyond the U.S. and Canada. Lyft and Uber, both having discontinued their internal autonomous vehicle programs, are now competing to form partnerships with AV technology companies like Baidu. While Uber has partnered with over 18 companies to develop its robot
robotautonomous-vehiclesrobotaxisLyftBaiduself-driving-technologytransportation-innovation