Lyft to deploy Chinese robotaxis in Europe

China's EVs still cost less, even with tariffs

- KEITH BRADSHER

China's automakers have teamed up with software companies to go global with their driverless cars, which are poised to claim a big share of a growing market as Western manufacturers are still preparing to compete.

The industry in China is expanding despite tariffs imposed last year by the European Union on electric cars and despite some worries in Europe about the security implications of relying on Chinese suppliers.

Baidu, one of China's biggest software companies, said Monday that it would supply Lyft, an American ride-hailing service, with self-driving cars assembled by Jiangling Motors of China. Lyft is expected to begin operating them next year in Germany and Britain, subject to regulatory approval, the companies said.

The announcement comes three months after Uber and Momenta, a Chinese autonomous driving company, announced their own plans to begin offering self-driving cars in an unspecified European city early next year. Momenta will soon provide assisted driving technology to Chinese company IM Motors for its cars sold in Britain.

While Momenta has not specified the model Uber will be using, it has already signalled it will choose a Chinese model. In China, “the pace of development and the pressure to deliver at scale push companies to improve quickly,” said Gerhard Steiger, the chair of Momenta Europe.

China's state-controlled banking system has been lending money at low interest rates to the country’s electric car industry in a bid for global leadership.