After the US, Robotaxis Are Now Coming To Europe

The Apollo RT6 was designed from the ground-up to be completely self-driving

                                        https://www.carscoops.com/author/bradcarscoops-com/                                    

The world of transportation is changing, and thanks to robotaxis, it’s changing quickly. Not willing to let Uber, Waymo, and Tesla have all the robotaxi fun, ride-hailing giant Lyft is also getting in the game. Alongside its efforts to establish a robotaxi fleet in the US, Lyft has announced a partnership with Chinese technology firm Baidu to introduce self-driving taxis throughout Europe next year.

Much like Waymo, which uses specially-equipped Jaguar I-Paces for its robotaxi fleet, Lyft isn’t building its own dedicated autonomous taxi. Instead, its European fleet will use the Apollo RT6 from Baidu, which has been in service in China since 2022. The minivan was developed from the outset to be completely self-driving, and Baidu has already completed more than 11 million rides across 15 cities through its robotaxi service.

Read: Baidu Claims Its Autonomous Tech Is Ahead Of Tesla

According to Lyft, its robotaxi fleet in Europe will first be launched in Germany and the United Kingdom next year, but notes this is “pending regulatory approval.” In the subsequent years, Lyft hopes to have a fleet of thousands of vehicles across Europe.

All Apollo RT6 vehicles to be used across the continent will come equipped with Baidu’s complete sensor suite, including 8 LiDAR sensors and 12 cameras. Lyft also says it will “work closely with European regulators and stakeholders to ensure vehicles meet all necessary safety standards and regulatory requirements”.

The Age Of The Robotaxi

“Our partnership with Baidu is all about creating a great customer experience,” Lyft chief executive David Risher said. “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.”

“It’s part of our hybrid network approach, where AVs and human drivers work together to provide customer-obsessed options for riders,” Risher added. “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.”