Lyft says it can launch a fleet of robotaxis, utilizing self-driving know-how from Intel’s Mobileye, in Dallas in “as quickly as 2026,” with plans to scale to ”1000’s” of automobiles in extra markets within the months to comply with. To sign its seriousness, the corporate tapped Marubeni, a Japanese conglomerate, to run fleet operations.
Lyft’s information comes after Uber dropped new particulars about its plan to function Waymo’s robotaxis on its platform in Austin and Atlanta later this 12 months. And Tesla not too long ago shared plans to launch a robotaxi service in Austin this summer time.
Lyft is taking the same method as Uber, providing its ridehail platform to totally different self-driving builders who wish to join with clients with out having to construct their very own customer-facing operation. Like Uber, Lyft’s curiosity is staying as “asset gentle” as potential, needing different firms to personal, function, and keep the robotaxi fleet for its clients.
Toward that finish, Lyft says that Marubeni is a world chief in fleet administration, with over 900,000 automobiles worldwide by way of numerous subsidiaries and joint ventures. Lyft says the corporate will use its Flexdrive fleet-management capabilities “to attenuate whole value of car possession and maximize fleet utilization.” Marubeni doesn’t seem to have any particular expertise with ridehail or autonomous automobile operations, however as TechCrunch famous, it has labored with Mobileye on on-demand mobility in Japan.
“They’re aiming to be leaders within the rising AV area, and we sit up for working collectively,” Lyft CEO David Risher mentioned in a submit on X.
Marubeni will personal the automobiles that function with Mobileye know-how. The Intel-owned firm is a provider of superior driver help know-how to numerous prime automakers, together with Ford, Volkswagen, and Toyota.
