Uber & Momenta: Europe’s Robotaxi Revolution Begins in Munich 2026

Uber and its new partner Momenta are set to revolutionize urban transport in Europe, with plans to launch autonomous ride-sharing services in Munich, Germany, starting in 2026. This exciting venture will combine Momenta’s cutting-edge self-driving technology with Uber’s extensive ride-sharing platform, with ambitious goals for expansion across the continent.

The bustling German city of Munich was strategically chosen as the launchpad for this initiative. Momenta highlighted the city’s rich engineering tradition, robust automotive ecosystem, and its progressive stance on innovation as key factors.

This collaboration stems from a “strategic agreement” forged between Uber and Momenta in May of this year. Initially, the robotaxi service will operate with safety drivers onboard, ensuring a smooth transition into fully autonomous operations. Momenta, a trailblazer in China’s autonomous vehicle industry, has been rigorously testing its self-driving cars since 2018 and aims to kick off commercial operations in its home base of 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 installations to date.

While Europe has historically trailed behind the US and China in embracing self-driving taxis, the tide is rapidly turning. Uber and Momenta will enter a competitive landscape, with other players already making moves. Baidu, for instance, has announced plans to test its Apollo Go robotaxi service in Switzerland as early as this year. Similarly, WeRide launched a pilot program in Switzerland in January 2025 and soon after began testing a driverless shuttle system in France.

Uber’s strategy in the autonomous vehicle space is built on partnerships. The company has teamed up with various self-driving tech firms, including WeRide, Pony.AI, and Momenta, for services in the Middle East. Furthermore, Uber has a deal with UK-based Wayve to conduct self-driving ride-sharing trials in London next year. In the US, it recently announced plans to offer ride-sharing services in Los Angeles using an autonomous version of Volkswagen’s iconic ID. Buzz.

The Munich service will utilize Level 4 self-driving vehicles. This means these vehicles are capable of operating autonomously without a safety driver within predefined geographical areas, known as “geofenced zones.” Before hitting the roads, the companies will need to secure the necessary certification from the German government and obtain approval for these specific operational zones.

Uber’s journey into autonomous vehicles has seen a significant evolution. After an initial attempt to develop its own self-driving cars, which ended in 2020 following a tragic accident involving a pedestrian and legal disputes, Uber shifted its focus. The company now strategically partners with specialized autonomous vehicle manufacturers, a successful approach evident in its collaborations with companies like Waymo, offering fully autonomous rides in cities like Austin and Atlanta.

This partnership between Uber and Momenta marks a pivotal step forward for autonomous mobility in Europe, promising a glimpse into the future of urban transportation.