Uber and Chinese Autonomous Vehicle Startup Momenta Plan to Launch Robotaxis in Munich, Germany in 2026
Autonomous vehicle startup Momenta and ride-hailing giant Uber have announced plans to debut robotaxis in Munich, Germany in 2026. This marks the first continental European city for either company to publicly declare such a venture, with intentions to expand into additional markets.
The partnership between the two companies was revealed in May 2025, with Uber stating that Momenta-powered vehicles would be introduced on its platform across Europe in 2026, initially featuring human safety operators on board to monitor and take control if necessary.
Founded in 2016, Momenta is one of China’s earliest autonomous vehicle (AV) companies. Based in Beijing, the startup has been testing self-driving cars within China since 2018 and is recognized as a key player in the country’s competitive AV market.
Uber’s entry into the European AV market positions it against other ride-hailing companies looking to expand their presence there. In August, Lyft announced a partnership with Baidu for robotaxi deployment across Europe beginning next year, starting with Germany and the UK.
Momenta is one of 20 global AV partners that Uber has brought on board across its ride-hailing, delivery, and freight businesses. Uber claims that these collaborations have already generated an annualized rate of 1.5 million mobility and delivery trips.
In the United States, Uber offers Waymo’s robotaxis via its app in Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Internationally, Uber has partnered with Momenta, WeRide, and Pony.ai—other Chinese AV startups—to introduce robotaxis on the Uber platform in the Middle East. Uber and WeRide currently offer AV rides in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, with plans to extend services to Dubai. Uber and UK-based Wayve have also announced intentions to launch public road trials of Level 4 AVs in London.
(Level 4 autonomy refers to vehicles capable of operating without human intervention under specific conditions.)
Uber stated that Munich was chosen as its European base due to the city’s rich engineering heritage and robust automotive ecosystem.
“Germany has been a driving force behind the global automotive industry for over a century, and now Munich will contribute to shaping the future with autonomous vehicles,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, in a statement.
Inquiries regarding certification process progress in Germany have been sent to both Uber and Momenta, with the latter needing to demonstrate that its vehicles meet safety standards and secure approval for designated operating areas (known as “geo-fenced zones”) from local authorities.
This potential deployment could mark Momenta’s first robotaxi rollout in Europe. The company is currently operating a service in Shanghai, aiming for a commercial launch with onboard safety operators by the end of 2025. As it continues to develop Level 4 capabilities, Momenta has also been working alongside partner automakers—including German brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi—to deploy advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). According to the company, its ADAS is already installed in over 400,000 vehicles sold to customers today.
