Jaguar Land Rover has announced a £19m investment in ride-sharing service Lyft.
The company is one of the leading rivals of controversial taxi service Uber, allowing app users in 350 cities across the USA to summon cars on demand.
Jaguar Land Rover will use the partnership to development its future technology, including autonomous vehicles. Lyft drivers will also be supplied with a range of Jaguar Land Rover cars.
JLR has made the investment through InMotion, its investment fund used for promoting companies that development new technologies for future cars and mobility.
InMotion managing director Sebastian Peck said: ‘We are excited to collaborate with a leading platform like Lyft. Personal mobility and smart transportation is evolving and this new collaborative venture will provide a real-world platform helping us develop our connected and autonomous services.’
Lyft co-founder John Zimmer said that the company ‘envisions a future where shared mobility will transform cities and improve people’s lives. This partnership will help us achieve that ambitious goal.’
The ride-sharing startup's vehicles were initially notable in the US for the fuzzy pink moustaches they carried on the front of the bonnet, a gimmick which it has since dropped. The company has gained more attention in recent months as market leader Uber has suffered from a slew of bad publicity.