Autonomous Shuttles by Lyft and BENTELER Mobility Unveiled
Lyft, the ride-hailing giant, is set to take a significant step forward in its autonomous vehicle (AV) efforts with the announcement of a new partnership. This collaboration with BENTELER Mobility and HOLON GmbH focuses on integrating next-generation AV technology into Lyft’s network, aiming for a wide and efficient deployment of autonomous shuttles beginning in 2026.
The partnership combines Lyft’s ride-hailing market expertise and user-centric approach with BENTELER’s automotive-grade production, fleet ownership, financing capabilities, and HOLON’s autonomous vehicle technology. The key elements of this collaboration include:
- Autonomous Vehicle Technology Integration: HOLON GmbH, a BENTELER subsidiary, develops purpose-built autonomous shuttles designed for short-distance, high-frequency urban travel, using Mobileye’s autonomous driving system.
- Fleet Financing and Operation: BENTELER Mobility not only manufactures but also plans to own and operate fleets at scale, a rarity in the AV industry.
- Manufacturing and Integration at Scale: BENTELER leverages its deep automotive manufacturing expertise to produce AV platforms with automotive-grade quality. They operate a new $100 million production facility in Jacksonville, Florida, which supports scalable manufacturing and integration.
- Expansion Opportunities: The partnership has flexibility to expand beyond HOLON’s urban shuttles to other vehicle types, leveraging BENTELER’s global manufacturing capabilities and industry relationships.
The initial deployment of self-driving shuttle services is planned for next year, with the launch marking a significant expansion of Lyft's AV efforts. Tobias Liebelt, CEO of BENTELER Mobility, emphasized the synergy between the companies, stating, "This partnership represents another major milestone in Lyft's vision of making transportation truly for everyone."
HOLON GmbH's autonomous urban shuttles, powered by Mobileye's autonomous driving systems, will be available on the Lyft platform. BENTELER Mobility offers an end-to-end solution for managing autonomous vehicle fleets, providing significant benefits for both companies.
Lyft has partnered with BENTELER Mobility, a leading mobility-as-a-service provider, and this initiative builds on Lyft's growing AV momentum, complementing ongoing partnerships with companies like May Mobility, Mobileye, Marubeni, and Nexar.
The partnership gives Lyft access to BENTELER's deep automotive manufacturing expertise and extensive global supply chain. Lyft plans to work closely with local governments and communities to ensure the responsible and inclusive rollout of these services.
With this partnership, Lyft is set to take a significant step towards its goal of making transportation truly for everyone, expanding its AV efforts and introducing autonomous shuttles to its network of over 44 million annual riders.
- This partnership between Lyft, BENTELER Mobility, and HOLON GmbH marks a significant advancement in Lyft's autonomous vehicle efforts, leveraging technology from HOLON and financing capabilities from BENTELER to expand its AV industry influence.
- The collaboration will integrate Holon's purpose-built autonomous shuttles into Lyft's transport network, aiming for large-scale deployment of efficient autonomous shuttles in the transportation business as early as 2026.
- With the addition of BENTELER's automotive-grade production, fleet ownership, and business relations, this partnership brings together expertise in technology, finance, and industry to revolutionize the transportation industry.
