Europeans will soon be able to ask for a Lyft. The ride-sharing platform is buying taxi application FreeNow in a cash deal worth nearly $197 million, expected to close in the second half of 2025.
Jointly co-owned by Mercedes-Benz and BMW, German-based FreeNow is available in over 150 cities across nine European countries, including France, Germany, Ireland, and the U.K.
Users can access various mobility services within the FreeNow app, including taxis, private hire vehicles, ride-sharing, car-sharing, car rental, e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds, and public transport. The company said luxury vehicles make up a significant portion of its fleet.
“We’re on an ambitious path to build the best, most customer-obsessed mobility platform in the world, and entering Europe is an important step in our growth journey,” said David Risher, CEO of Lyft, in a statement. “We found the perfect partner in FreeNow and can learn a lot from the team. FreeNow’s local-first approach mirrors Lyft’s values and embodies our purpose—to serve and connect.”
“Joining forces with Lyft is a powerful step forward for FreeNow and marks the beginning of an ambitious new phase—one where we strengthen our role as a leading force in European mobility,” added FreeNow CEO Thomas Zimmermann.
As a result of its acquisition of FreeNow, Lyft’s total addressable market expands to more than 300 billion personal vehicle trips, nearly doubling what it currently has.
Its entry into the European market expands the brand beyond the U.S. and Canada, laying the foundation for it to compete with Uber on a global scale.
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