Uber & Momenta Set to Launch Robotaxi Tests in Europe by 2026

Uber and its partner Momenta are set to revolutionize urban transport in Europe, with plans to begin testing an autonomous ride-sharing service in 2026. Munich, Germany, will be the inaugural city for this exciting venture, leveraging Momenta’s cutting-edge self-driving technology alongside Uber’s well-established ride-sharing platform. This move marks a significant step towards wider European expansion for robotaxis.

The choice of Munich as the launchpad is no accident. Momenta highlighted the city’s “deep-rooted engineering heritage, top-tier automotive ecosystem, and openness to innovation” as key factors in their decision.

This initiative stems from a strategic agreement forged between Momenta and Uber in May of this year. Initially, the robotaxi service will include safety drivers onboard, a common practice for early testing phases. Momenta, a pioneer among China’s autonomous vehicle companies, has been rigorously testing self-driving cars since 2018 and plans to roll out a commercial operation in Shanghai next year. Beyond ride-sharing, Momenta also develops advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for major automakers like Mercedes-Benz and Audi, with over 400,000 systems already installed.

While Europe has historically lagged behind the US and China in embracing self-driving taxis, the landscape is rapidly changing. Uber and Momenta won’t be alone in this emerging market. Baidu, another key player, has announced intentions to begin testing its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Switzerland as early as this year. Similarly, WeRide launched its pilot program in Switzerland in January 2025 and quickly followed with tests for a driverless shuttle system in France.

Uber’s strategy globally involves forming alliances with various self-driving vehicle companies. The company has partnered with WeRide, Pony.AI, and Momenta in the Middle East. Closer to Europe, Uber has a deal with UK-based Wayve to launch self-driving ride-sharing trials in London next year. In the US, Uber recently announced plans to offer ride-sharing services in Los Angeles using an autonomous version of Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz, and it already offers fully autonomous rides with Waymo in cities like Austin and Atlanta.

The Munich service by Uber and Momenta will utilize Level 4 self-driving vehicles. This means these vehicles are designed to operate without a safety driver within predefined geographical areas, though initial deployment will include safety personnel. Before hitting the roads, the companies will need to secure certification from the German government and obtain approval for these specific “geofenced zones” of operation.

It’s worth noting that Uber’s path to robotaxis hasn’t always been through partnerships. The company originally aimed to develop its own self-driving cars but pivoted from this strategy in 2020 following a tragic pedestrian fatality and a scandal involving alleged trade secret theft from Waymo. Since then, collaborating with specialized autonomous vehicle manufacturers has become Uber’s preferred route, allowing them to accelerate the adoption of self-driving technology across their platform.