Autonomous Shuttle Launch by Lyft and BENTELER Scheduled for 2026

Ride-hailing platform Lyft is teaming up with BENTELER Mobility to bring autonomous shuttles to its US network from 2026. This collaboration aims to broaden access to autonomous transport in urban environments, with initial deployments at airports and city centers.

The autonomous shuttles will be developed by HOLON GmbH, a BENTELER subsidiary specializing in autonomous mobility. Unlike many AV initiatives, the HOLON shuttle has been engineered from the ground up for autonomous operation. The vehicles are designed for shared, on-demand travel and will operate on the Lyft platform, equipped with Mobileye's autonomous driving technology.

BENTELER Mobility, with its fleet ownership and financing capabilities, aims to own and operate vehicles at scale, a rarity in the industry. The production facility for these shuttles will be a new 100 million USD production facility in Jacksonville, Florida, serving as a hub for the initial output of the autonomous shuttles.

The collaboration between Lyft and BENTELER Mobility will be facilitated by BENTELER Trading International, BENTELER's finance and trading arm. BENTELER Mobility is a partner with a strong connection to a large automotive supplier, offering manufacturing expertise and global reach.

Pilot testing for the autonomous shuttles will commence next year, and further deployments are expected from late 2026. The focus is on seamless integration of autonomous shuttles alongside human-driven services on Lyft's platform. The strategy can support varied vehicle types and geographies over time.

Lyft and BENTELER Mobility plan to invest tens of millions of dollars in growing an autonomous fleet, with the potential for scaling to thousands of vehicles. The company that developed the autonomous shuttles for collaboration with Lyft is Momenta, and the first production site is planned to be in Munich.

This partnership represents a shift toward purpose-built AV solutions for high-frequency, short-distance travel in complex urban environments. The introduction of autonomous shuttles to Lyft's US network is a significant step towards a future of seamless, autonomous transportation.