FREENOW
About
About FREENOW
FREENOW connects passengers with licensed taxis and other urban transport services through one consumer and driver platform. The marketplace manages booking, pricing, dispatch, payment and customer support across multiple European cities while local drivers and fleet operators provide the physical service.
Following Lyft’s acquisition, FREENOW remains the group’s European operating brand. In London it is supporting the planned testing of Baidu Apollo Go RT6 vehicles by contributing local marketplace, fleet and operating knowledge. The programme is a testing initiative without general public availability as a driverless ride service.
Team
- Thomas Zimmermann - Chief Executive Officer - Leads the operating company and its European mobility marketplace.
- Lennart Zipfel - Chief Financial Officer & Managing Director - Leads finance and serves as a current managing director of Intelligent Apps GmbH.
Timeline
Events
- 2026-07-28 - Deployment - Baidu and FREENOW begin Apollo Go RT6 public-road testing in London
The testing fleet comprises dozens of purpose-built Apollo Go RT6 vehicles. Human safety operators remain in the vehicles during the current public-road testing phase. Public passenger access is targeted for 2027 and remains subject to regulatory approval.
Source - 2026-07-28 - Deployment - FREENOW and Apollo Go begin RT6 autonomous-vehicle testing in London
Sixth-generation RT6 vehicles began operating with trained safety operators in the London Borough of Brent. The programme will expand testing as the vehicles encounter London’s urban and suburban road network. The partners are using the road-test phase to prepare the service and operating framework for future passenger availability.
Source - 2026-01-28 - Partnership - FREENOW by Lyft and Hamburg sign autonomous-taxi integration memorandum
The framework covers staged integration of autonomous taxis into Hamburg’s urban transport system. FREENOW, Lyft and Hamburg will coordinate regulation, infrastructure and operating requirements for future Level 4 taxi services.
Source - 2025-07-31 - Acquisition - Lyft completes €205.9M acquisition of FREENOW
Lyft's initial post-close purchase price was €204.1 million before provisional accounting updates. Revised provisional consideration is €205.9 million ($236.8 million), superseding the earlier €175 million cash headline.
Source
Relations
Relationships
- Baidu
London Operating And Marketplace Partner - Baidu supplies Apollo Go autonomy while FREENOW supports London RT6 road testing and marketplace operations.
- Lyft
Parent Company - FREENOW is a Lyft subsidiary following completion of Lyft's acquisition in July 2025.