by Lyft and Baidu Launch Driverless Taxis in Europe
Lyft, one of the leaders in the carpooling sector, has announced a partnership with China’s Baidu to launch driverless taxis in Europe. The first autonomous vehicles will begin operating in Germany and the UK as early as next year, subject to regulatory approval. Subsequently, there are plans to expand the fleet to a thousand vehicles across Europe.
For this, the Baidu Apollo RT6 model will be used, which has already been successfully operating in China since 2022. This minivan is equipped with 8 lidars and 12 cameras, ensuring a high level of safety. To date, in China, these vehicles have completed over 11 million trips in 15 cities.
Technology and Safety
Lyft emphasizes that it will work closely with European regulators to guarantee compliance with all safety standards. The company plans to combine autonomous vehicles with traditional taxis to provide customers with flexibility of choice.
“Our partnership with Baidu is aimed at creating a quality service for customers. Their experience in the field of autonomous transportation will allow us to offer millions of Europeans safety, reliability, and confidentiality,” stated Lyft CEO David Risher.
This step indicates the rapid development of autonomous technologies worldwide. If previously driverless taxis were associated with only a few companies, now they are becoming part of the global transportation market. Particularly interesting is the fact that the Apollo RT6 was specifically designed as autonomous transport, which distinguishes it from many competitors who adapt conventional cars.
