New Lyft Partnership to Bring HOLON Autonomous Shuttles to U.S. Cities in 2026

• Lyft will integrate HOLON autonomous shuttles into its platform starting in 2026 through a new partnership with BENTELER Mobility.
• The collaboration includes vehicle deployment, financing, manufacturing, and expansion services aimed at scaling AV operations globally.

Lyft has announced a new partnership with BENTELER Mobility to roll out autonomous shuttles, aiming to launch in U.S. cities and airports in late 2026. The vehicles, developed by HOLON and powered by Mobileye’s autonomous technology, will be available through the Lyft app, offering a new self-driving option as the company expands its AV footprint.

The partnership targets four key areas: technology integration, fleet financing, manufacturing, and future expansion. BENTELER’s sister company will provide vehicle ownership and funding, with tens of millions committed to scaling operations. Unlike typical retrofits, these shuttles will be built at scale using BENTELER’s global production capabilities, including a new $100 million facility in Florida. The collaboration also sets the stage for broader deployments beyond urban shuttles, tailored to local markets and regulations.

"BENTELER Mobility is exactly the kind of partner we need to accelerate our AV ambitions," said Jeremy Bird, Lyft’s Executive Vice President of Driver Experience, in an official news release. "They're not just a tech company — they're closely linked to a massive automotive supplier with deep manufacturing expertise and global reach. Plus, their fleet ownership and financing capabilities mean they have ambitions to own and operate vehicles at scale, not just build them — a rarity in this industry. All this means we can more quickly deploy AVs at the speed and scale our riders deserve."

Lyft aims to use this partnership to advance its hybrid rideshare network strategy, combining AVs and human drivers to serve its 44 million annual riders more efficiently.

🌀 Tom’s Take:

This is a strategic move from Lyft, announced on the heels of competitor Uber’s partnership with Lucid and Nuro. It signals a race toward AV platform dominance within the ride-sharing space.

Source: Lyft