Lyft Inc. is partnering with Baidu Inc. to introduce autonomous vehicles in Europe, marking a major step in its global expansion strategy. The companies announced that the first deployments will begin in Germany and the UK in 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The partnership will see Lyft deploy Baidu’s sixth-generation robotaxis, with plans to scale the fleet to thousands of vehicles across Europe in the coming years.

The deal comes shortly after Lyft completed its acquisition of Freenow, one of Europe’s largest taxi-hailing apps, giving it access to nine new markets in the region. Shares of Lyft rose as much as 4.7% and Baidu’s US-listed shares climbed 2.8% following the news.

Catching Up to Uber in the Robotaxi Race

This move positions Lyft to better compete with Uber Technologies Inc., which has already forged multiple robotaxi alliances worldwide. While Uber recently announced a similar deal with Baidu, its first deployments are set for Asia and the Middle East later this year.

Lyft’s deal with Baidu is non-exclusive, meaning both ride-hailing companies could eventually operate Baidu’s autonomous vehicles in overlapping markets.

In the US, Lyft plans to offer its first driverless rides in Atlanta later this year through a partnership with May Mobility. The company also has agreements for 2026 US deployments with Mobileye Global Inc. and Benteler Group.

Uber, meanwhile, already operates driverless rides in Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta with Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo, and in Abu Dhabi with WeRide.

Baidu’s Global Robotaxi Ambitions

For Baidu, which operates one of China’s largest autonomous taxi fleets through its Apollo Go service, the Lyft partnership is a chance to expand into new geographies. Apollo Go has delivered over 11 million rides in China and is exploring additional markets including Switzerland, Singapore, and Malaysia.

By collaborating with major ride-hailing platforms, local taxi companies, and fleet operators, Baidu aims to rapidly grow its global presence in the autonomous vehicle sector.

With European countries ramping up autonomous driving regulations and infrastructure, the 2026 rollout could be a turning point in the continent’s adoption of self-driving ride-hailing services.