Global giants Lyft to acquire Gett UK business in London black cab taxi expansion
- Perry Richardson
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Lyft has agreed to acquire the UK operations of Gett, in a move that significantly expands its footprint in London’s black cab market and wider ground transport sector.
The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to complete in the coming weeks.
The deal will see Lyft combine Gett’s established London presence with its existing platform Freenow, positioning the US-based firm as a dominant app provider for black cab bookings in the capital.
Gett currently works with approximately three-quarters of licensed black cab drivers across Greater London, giving Lyft immediate scale in one of Europe’s most tightly regulated taxi markets.
Deal set to strengthen Lyft’s position in capital’s regulated taxi market and corporate travel sector
Following completion, Lyft is expected to double the number of rides in London, while broadening its service offering across multiple transport modes. The enlarged platform will include black cabs, private hire vehicles, executive chauffeur services and micromobility options, reflecting a strategy to integrate multiple transport types into a single user ecosystem.
The acquisition also brings a substantial enterprise client base into Lyft’s portfolio. Gett has built longstanding business-to-business relationships with corporate clients, public sector organisations and major venues across London. This enterprise-focused model is expected to complement Lyft’s existing operations, strengthening its appeal to high-value commercial users and institutional travel buyers.
Outside of its drivers and passengers, Gett’s workforce will transition into Freenow’s once the deal completes, consolidating Lyft’s UK operations under a single structure.
Lyft’s broader UK strategy extends beyond taxis and private hire. The company already holds a long-term contract to provide the bikes and docking infrastructure for Santander Cycles, including the software platform that supports the scheme. It is also preparing to pilot autonomous ride services in London later this year in partnership with Baidu, marking a step towards mixed fleets of human-driven and autonomous vehicles operating on a single platform.
The company said the acquisition aligns with its global growth strategy, focused on expanding geographically while moving into higher-value transport segments. London represents a key market in this approach, given its scale, regulatory structure and reliance on both licensed taxis and app-based services.
Financially, Lyft stated the transaction will not impact its first quarter 2026 results and is expected to have only a limited effect on second quarter performance. The company is scheduled to report its Q1 results on 7 May 2026.
Jeremy Bird, EVP of Global Growth at Lyft, said: “With Gett, Lyft is expanding its coverage of London's full ground transport ecosystem.
“This milestone reflects Lyft's commitment to the London market and our belief in its long-term potential. Adding Gett to Lyft’s ecosystem positions Lyft as the leading app for London black cabs.”
Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, said: “Those who drive black cabs are some of the world's most qualified drivers. Drivers pass the world's toughest taxi exam, learning 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks before being licensed.
“We are excited to welcome Gett into the Lyft ecosystem, strengthening our customer-centric black cab and private hire service for Londoners, passengers across the UK, and travelers worldwide.”
Matteo de Renzi, CEO of Gett, said: “We are delighted to start a new chapter for Gett operations in the UK with Lyft.
“I’m confident that under this new ownership, the team at Gett by Lyft will continue to reach new heights, for the benefit of all our customers, drivers, and partners”.
