Lyft to add autonomous shuttles to its ride-hailing network

• Both companies envision a mixed fleet of human- and robot-driven cars on their networks in the future.

Driving the news: Lyft said Friday it will partner with Benteler Mobility, a unit of European auto supplier Benteler Group, to deploy AV shuttles on its network starting in late 2026.

• The companies will begin by deploying shuttles in partnership with airports and cities, but did not provide details.
• They could expand to "thousands of vehicles as we bring this service to more geographies around the globe," Lyft said in a blog post.
• Riders will be able to book a shuttle ride directly through the Lyft platform.

Zoom in: The purpose-built autonomous shuttles will be produced by Holon, a Benteler Mobility company, in Jacksonville, Fla.

• The toaster-shaped, 8-passenger electric vehicles are also being deployed on a new 3-mile circulator route run by Jacksonville's public transit authority.

• Another arm of Benteler will finance and own the Lyft shuttles, "with tens of millions of dollars intended for future autonomous fleet expansion," Lyft said.

Context: The partnership builds on Lyft's other AV efforts, including plans to bring May Mobility AVs to Atlanta this summer, and to deploy Mobileye-powered electric robovans starting in Dallas in 2026.

What to watch: Lyft said it will begin testing Holon's AV shuttles on its network next year, working closely with local communities and policymakers to ensure safety.