Lyft plans to introduce autonomous shuttles by 2026 in partnership with Benteler

Lyft has announced plans to add autonomous shuttles to its fleet by late 2026. These shuttles, produced by the Austrian company Benteler Group under its Holon brand, will be used in U.S. cities and airports, with potential for further expansion if successful. The shuttles, which are designed without steering wheels or pedals, will offer space for nine seated and six standing passengers. This partnership with Benteler is part of Lyft’s broader efforts to implement autonomous vehicles into its network, following in the footsteps of its main rival Uber. Uber has made significant strides in integrating robotaxis, including partnerships with companies like Waymo, WeRide, Baidu, and others. Lyft, however, is still working on implementing autonomous vehicles, including a planned rollout of May Mobility AVs in Atlanta later this year. Additionally, Lyft is collaborating with Mobileye, though it’s unclear which company will provide the vehicles for this deal. Despite these efforts, Lyft is taking a more gradual approach to deploying autonomous vehicles compared to Uber’s rapid expansion in the field.