Lyft has teamed up with little-known German startup Holon and industrial giant Benteler Mobility to bring autonomous shuttle buses to American cities by 2026. A promising idea, but can pink-logoed Lyft actually beat Tesla, Waymo, and its eternal rival—Uber?
Years ago, Lyft was best known for the pink mustaches on its drivers' cars. But by 2025, the mustaches will be gone, and Lyft has a bold new plan. This time, instead of human drivers, it will use steering wheelless shuttle buses to transport Americans in a futuristic style. Sounds like science fiction? Maybe, but the future is coming faster than you think.
Lyft and Holon Urban: The Robotaxi That Will Take You (Literally)
Uber has already developed its own fleet of autonomous vehicles in partnership with Waymo and Lucid, and Tesla has been aggressively promoting Autopilot for several years. Lyft has been a bit quieter—at least until now. It recently teamed up with Germany’s Holon and Benteler Mobility, with the goal of offering its own fleet of autonomous shuttle vehicles, called Holon Urban, by the end of 2026.
The Holon Urban is electric, fully autonomous and – perhaps more importantly – without a steering wheel or pedals. It is designed for urban transport, airports and business districts and can accommodate up to 15 passengers. If you are wondering what your future trip to a party or to the airport will be like, the answer is simple: comfortable, quiet and without that awkward ride where you have to tell the taxi driver where you are going.
Who the hell is Holon?
If you've never heard of Holon or Benteler, don't feel bad. You're not alone. Holon is a startup that was created in 2022 as a spin-off of industrial giant Benteler Group, which has a 150-year history in the automotive industry. The Holon Urban was designed by renowned Italian design house Pininfarina, known for its high-end designs for Ferraris and Alfa Romeos. Now, instead of sports cars, it's going to design driverless buses - why not?
Although production of vehicles for the US has not yet begun (the first factory in Jacksonville, Florida will not open until 2026), Holon is already preparing to take its first steps on American roads. That is, if they are not prevented by customs and legal obstacles, which are not very friendly to European robots on wheels in the US.
Uber and Tesla should be nervous (or at least cautious)
Uber is already deep in autonomous waters, and Tesla has always confidently claimed to be the first to conquer the self-driving future. Lyft, which has been watching from the sidelines until now, has apparently decided to join the party and throw down the gauntlet in the face of the giants. Their main advantage is their existing network of users who already have the Lyft app installed — and who might not complain too much about being transported by a robot shuttle instead of a tired driver who drove all night for Uber.
A future where drivers are redundant
Lyft envisions a “human-centered” future where, paradoxically, there is no human behind the wheel. The first rides are planned for 2026, when Holon Urban will hit American roads. If they manage to overcome bureaucratic hurdles and if driverless rides prove safe and reliable, then Uber and Tesla will have a new, quite serious competitor.
Holo's autonomous future seems ideal for people who want peaceful and efficient urban transportation. But will this ideal future be possible? Or will Lyft have to stick with "human" drivers for a few more years - albeit without the pink mustache?
Conclusion: Will Lyft finally become the robotaxi king?
So Lyft is serious. Partnering with a German startup is a bold step into the future, but whether Americans embrace driverless shuttles will determine whether Lyft can truly rule the robo-taxi world.
One thing is for sure: the future of transportation is getting more and more fun. All we need is a steering wheel.
