Ride-hailing firm Lyft is planning to introduce autonomous vehicles in Germany and the UK next year following a deal with Chinese tech firm Baidu.

The partnership between the two companies will see Lyft deploy Baidu's Apollo Go autonomous vehicles (AVs) across key European markets using the Lyft platform.

These electric vehicles will initially be available in Germany and the UK from next year, pending regulatory clearance, with the fleet ¡°scaling to thousands of vehicles¡± across Europe in the coming years.

David Risher, Lyft¡¯s CEO, said: "Our partnership with Baidu is all about creating a great customer experience. 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.

"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."

Robin Li, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu, added: "This collaboration represents our commitment to making autonomous mobility accessible worldwide, while working with local partners who understand their communities.

¡°By integrating Baidu's cutting-edge autonomous driving technology with Lyft's platform reach and operational expertise, we're excited to deliver safer, greener and more efficient mobility solutions to more users."

Baidu¡¯s Apollo Go currently provides 1,000 autonomous vehicles for ride-hailing services in 15 cities around the world. Lyft will become its first European rideshare partner following Lyft¡¯s acquisition of Freenow earlier this year.

¡°Both companies will work closely with European regulators and stakeholders to ensure vehicles meet all necessary safety standards and regulatory requirements,¡± said the firms in a statement.