Lyft forms own autonomous vehicle unit, will open network By Associated Press Updated July 21, 2017 5:11 p.m. Lyft driver Marvin Lopez with the new “AMP” device in San Francisco, Calif.

Lyft forms own autonomous vehicle unit, will open network by: Vince Cestone. Posted: Jul 22, 2017 / 01:56 AM PDT. Updated: Jul 22, 2017 / 01:56 AM PDT. by: Vince Cestone.

DETROIT (AP) – Lyft is setting up its own unit to develop autonomous vehicle technology, but its approach will be different from other companies and partnerships working on self-driving cars.

Lyft is calling its unit "Level Five," the industry term for fully-autonomous vehicles. It expects to have 200 employees working on the vehicles in Palo Alto, California, by the end of the year.