Lyft said it will partner with China’s Baidu to introduce driver-less ride-hailing services in Europe beginning in 2026, with initial deployments of Baidu’s electric Apollo Go RT6 robotaxis in Germany and the United Kingdom. The launch is subject to local regulatory approval and will mark Baidu’s first commercial foray into the European autonomous-vehicle market. Under the agreement, Baidu will supply the self-driving vehicles and related technology while Lyft will operate the ride-hailing platform, oversee customer service and manage fleet logistics. Lyft plans to leverage its recent US$200 million purchase of European mobility app FreeNow—giving it operations in nine countries and more than 180 cities—to accelerate the roll-out. The companies aim to expand the fleet to several thousand vehicles across key European markets over the following years. The move underscores intensifying competition among ride-hailing rivals to secure autonomous-vehicle partnerships. Uber has already struck similar deals with Waymo, Momenta and other AV developers for an expected European launch in 2026. Baidu’s Apollo Go service currently fields about 1,000 vehicles in 15 cities worldwide and has completed more than 11 million rides. Following the announcement, Lyft shares climbed roughly 4% in early trading, while Baidu gained about 3%.