Lyft Partners with Baidu to Deploy Autonomous Rides Across Europe
Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) and Lyft have announced a strategic partnership to deploy Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicles across European markets through Lyft's platform. The initial rollout will begin in Germany and the United Kingdom in 2026, pending regulatory approval, with plans to scale to thousands of vehicles across Europe.
The partnership will utilize Apollo Go's RT6 fully-electric vehicles, leveraging Baidu's extensive experience with over 11 million completed autonomous rides across 15 cities globally. Lyft will manage operations and marketplace activities, while Baidu provides vehicles and technical support. The collaboration builds on Lyft's FREENOW acquisition, which operates in 9 European countries and 180+ cities.
Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) e Lyft hanno annunciato una partnership strategica per lanciare i veicoli autonomi Apollo Go di Baidu nei mercati europei tramite la piattaforma di Lyft. Il lancio iniziale avverrà in Germania e Regno Unito nel 2026, soggetto all'approvazione normativa, con l'obiettivo di espandersi a migliaia di veicoli in tutta Europa.
La collaborazione utilizzerà i veicoli RT6 completamente elettrici di Apollo Go, sfruttando l'ampia esperienza di Baidu con oltre 11 milioni di corse autonome completate in 15 città a livello globale. Lyft gestirà le operazioni e le attività di mercato, mentre Baidu fornirà i veicoli e il supporto tecnico. Questa sinergia si basa sull'acquisizione da parte di Lyft di FREENOW, che opera in 9 paesi europei e oltre 180 città .
Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) y Lyft han anunciado una alianza estratégica para desplegar los vehÃculos autónomos Apollo Go de Baidu en los mercados europeos a través de la plataforma de Lyft. El lanzamiento inicial comenzará en Alemania y Reino Unido en 2026, sujeto a la aprobación regulatoria, con planes de escalar a miles de vehÃculos en toda Europa.
La colaboración utilizará los vehÃculos RT6 totalmente eléctricos de Apollo Go, aprovechando la amplia experiencia de Baidu con más de 11 millones de viajes autónomos completados en 15 ciudades a nivel mundial. Lyft gestionará las operaciones y actividades del mercado, mientras que Baidu proporcionará los vehÃculos y soporte técnico. Esta alianza se basa en la adquisición de FREENOW por parte de Lyft, que opera en 9 paÃses europeos y más de 180 ciudades.
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Baidu (NASDAQ : BIDU) et Lyft ont annoncé un partenariat stratégique pour déployer les véhicules autonomes Apollo Go de Baidu sur les marchés européens via la plateforme de Lyft. Le déploiement initial débutera en Allemagne et au Royaume-Uni en 2026, sous réserve d'approbations réglementaires, avec pour objectif d'étendre la flotte à des milliers de véhicules à travers l'Europe.
Le partenariat utilisera les véhicules RT6 entièrement électriques d'Apollo Go, tirant parti de l'expérience étendue de Baidu avec plus de 11 millions de trajets autonomes réalisés dans 15 villes à travers le monde. Lyft gérera les opérations et les activités du marché, tandis que Baidu fournira les véhicules et le support technique. Cette collaboration s'appuie sur l'acquisition de FREENOW par Lyft, qui opère dans 9 pays européens et plus de 180 villes.
Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) und Lyft haben eine strategische Partnerschaft angekündigt, um Baidus autonome Apollo Go-Fahrzeuge über die Plattform von Lyft auf den europäischen Märkten einzusetzen. Der erste Rollout beginnt 2026 in Deutschland und dem Vereinigten Königreich, vorbehaltlich behördlicher Genehmigungen, mit dem Ziel, auf tausende Fahrzeuge in ganz Europa zu skalieren.
Die Partnerschaft nutzt die vollständig elektrischen RT6-Fahrzeuge von Apollo Go und greift auf Baidus umfangreiche Erfahrung mit über 11 Millionen abgeschlossenen autonomen Fahrten in 15 Städten weltweit zurück. Lyft übernimmt das Betriebs- und Marktplatzmanagement, während Baidu die Fahrzeuge und technischen Support bereitstellt. Die Zusammenarbeit baut auf der Übernahme von FREENOW durch Lyft auf, das in 9 europäischen Ländern und mehr als 180 Städten tätig ist.
- Apollo Go brings extensive operational experience with over 11 million autonomous rides completed globally
- Partnership leverages FREENOW's established presence in 9 European countries and 180+ cities
- Baidu currently operates over 1,000 autonomous vehicles globally
- Strategic expansion into major European markets positions Baidu for significant international growth
- Deployment timeline not starting until 2026 indicates lengthy implementation period
- Success dependent on pending regulatory approvals in multiple jurisdictions
- Significant capital investment required to scale thousands of vehicles across Europe
Insights
Baidu's European autonomous expansion via Lyft partnership significantly advances its global AV commercialization strategy, creating new revenue streams outside China.
This strategic partnership represents a pivotal international expansion for Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicle (AV) business beyond its current Chinese operations. The deal positions Baidu to leverage Lyft's European presence—particularly through the FREENOW acquisition—to enter lucrative Western markets without building its own ride-hailing infrastructure from scratch.
The partnership's structure is particularly noteworthy: Baidu provides the technology and vehicles while Lyft manages operations and customer acquisition. This asset-light international expansion model allows Baidu to scale globally without the regulatory and operational complexities of directly entering foreign markets. For context, Apollo Go has already completed over 11 million rides globally with 1,000+ AVs operating across 15 cities, demonstrating proven operational capacity at scale.
The deployment timeline starting in 2026 for Germany and UK indicates this is a forward-looking revenue opportunity rather than an immediate catalyst. However, it establishes a framework for Baidu to monetize its AV technology investments in Western markets where regulatory frameworks for autonomous vehicles are maturing. The plan to eventually deploy thousands of vehicles suggests substantial revenue potential in the medium term.
For Baidu investors, this partnership diversifies revenue streams beyond the Chinese market and represents validation of Apollo Go's technology on the global stage. The timing aligns with industry projections of 2025-2027 as the inflection point for commercial AV deployments, positioning Baidu to capture market share as the autonomous mobility sector transitions from testing to commercial scale.
Lyft plans to deploy Baidu Apollo Go's RT6 autonomous vehicles initially in
Initial deployments are planned for
"Our partnership with Lyft to deploy Apollo Go in
"Our partnership with Baidu is all about creating a great customer experience. 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," said David Risher, Lyft CEO. "It's part of our hybrid network approach, where AVs and human drivers work together to provide customer-obsessed options for riders. And importantly, we're committed to working hand-in-hand with local regulators to ensure we deploy these vehicles in their communities in a smart, thoughtful way that benefits everyone."
Baidu's Apollo Go brings unparalleled 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 that provide autonomous ride-hailing services to the public. This collaboration represents a major leap forward in delivering world-class autonomous mobility to European riders.
Building
The partnership focuses on four key areas to transform European mobility:
Advanced AV Technology Deployment: Apollo Go's purpose-built, fully-electric RT6 vehicles are designed from the ground up for rideshare operations, leveraging the Apollo ADFM (Autonomous Driving Foundation Model) and six generations of real-world testing. When launched, RT6 rides will be available for riders directly 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
Strategic Partnership: Lyft will own the operational value chain and marketplace while Baidu provides vehicles, technology validation, and comprehensive technical support. This approach builds on Lyft's strategy to be the platform and fleet manager of choice as fleet owners and technology providers scale autonomous 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 established presence in
Implementation and Next Steps
Lyft will begin deployments pending regulatory approval in
With
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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." One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
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Whether it's an everyday commute or a journey that changes everything, Lyft is driven by our purpose: to serve and connect. Founded in 2012, Lyft has grown into a global mobility platform offering rideshare, taxis, private hire vehicles, car sharing, bikes, and scooters across
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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.