Baidu and Lyft Partner to Launch Robotaxis in Europe in 2026

Baidu plans to launch its driverless taxis in Europe through a partnership with Lyft, starting in the UK and Germany in 2026. The goal is to deploy thousands of robotaxis across Europe in the following years, pending regulatory approval. This marks Baidu's latest push into overseas autonomous vehicle markets and follows Lyft's acquisition of German ride-hailing company FreeNow. The partnership could strengthen Lyft's foothold in a region dominated by rivals such as Uber and Bolt.

Baidu, a leading Chinese tech company, has announced plans to launch its driverless taxis in Europe through a partnership with Lyft, starting in the UK and Germany in 2026. The goal is to deploy thousands of robotaxis across Europe in the following years, pending regulatory approval. This marks Baidu's latest push into overseas autonomous vehicle markets and follows Lyft's acquisition of German ride-hailing company FreeNow.

The partnership between Baidu and Lyft will leverage Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicle technology, which is integrated onto the Lyft platform. Lyft's recent acquisition of FreeNow is expected to accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles in Europe, given FreeNow's established presence in the UK and Germany [2].

Analysts predict a potential upside for Lyft's stock price, with an average one-year price target of $17.43, suggesting a 22.77% increase from the current trading price of $14.20 [1]. However, the consensus recommendation from brokerage firms is "Hold," reflecting a cautious approach among analysts [1].

Baidu has already been testing its Apollo Go robotaxis in China since 2021 and has struck deals with Uber to deploy its autonomous cars in parts of Asia, the Middle East, and eventually Europe [3]. The partnership with Lyft could strengthen Lyft's foothold in a region dominated by rivals such as Uber and Bolt.

References:

[1] https://www.gurufocus.com/news/3032239/lyft-lyft-and-baidu-partner-to-launch-robotaxi-service-in-europe
[2] https://www.engadget.com/transportation/lyft-and-baidu-plan-to-bring-their-robotaxis-to-the-uk-and-germany-next-year-152132114.html
[3] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/baidu-launch-robotaxis-europe-lyft-210814903.html