Lyft's Robotaxi Gamble: Inside the Bold Plan to Beat Uber with AI-Driven Cars by 2027

Lyft LYFT is stepping into the next chapter of ride-hailing with a high-stakes move that could reshape its future. The company announced a partnership with Tensor Auto Inc. to deploy hundreds of autonomous Robocars across Europe and North America starting in 2027. Each vehicle will come factory-equipped with Lyft's platform and powered by Nvidia NVDA AI chipsallowing owners to earn through Lyft's network wherever Level 4 self-driving technology is approved. Shares briefly rose on the news before slipping up to 2.5% in early New York trading, reflecting investor caution amid rising capital intensity.

What sets this deal apart is Lyft's decision to own and operate part of its future fleeta notable departure from its asset-light model. The company has reserved hundreds of Tensor Robocars through affiliates, pending regulatory approvals, with first deliveries targeted for late 2026. It's a strategic shift designed to close the innovation gap with Uber Technologies UBER, which already maintains a broader global footprint through partnerships with Waymo, WeRide, Lucid LUCD, and Nuro. By committing real capital to autonomous assets, Lyft could be positioning itself not just as a marketplace, but as a direct operator in the AI mobility race.

Tensor Auto's technology pedigree adds weight to the partnership. Founded in 2016 under its previous brand AutoX, the San Jose-based firm has tested autonomous systems on U.S. roads since 2017 and secured a driverless permit in California in 2020. It now plans to scale manufacturing in Vietnam through a deal with VinFast Auto Ltd. VFS, signaling ambitions well beyond Silicon Valley. For Lyft, the collaboration could mark a turning pointan attempt to blend platform scale with technological control at a moment when the future of driverless mobility is starting to take real shape.