Uber and Momenta to test autonomous vehicles in Germany in 2026

Uber, the renowned ride-hailing service, has announced an exciting partnership with Chinese autonomous vehicle startup Momenta to begin testing robotaxis in Munich, Germany, starting in 2026. This marks a significant milestone as it will be the first time either company publicly ventures into continental Europe with their autonomous vehicle technology. The collaboration was first revealed in May 2025, when Uber confirmed that vehicles powered by Momenta would be integrated into its platform in Europe. Initially, these robotaxis will operate with human safety operators onboard, who will oversee the vehicles and take control if necessary. Founded in 2016, Momenta is one of the pioneering autonomous vehicle companies in China. The Beijing-based startup has been conducting tests on self-driving cars since 2018 and has emerged as a key player in China’s dynamic autonomous vehicle market. Uber’s entry into this sector in Europe places it in direct competition with other ride-hailing firms that are also expanding their autonomous offerings. In a notable move, Lyft recently announced a partnership with Baidu to introduce robotaxis across Europe, starting with Germany and the UK next year. Momenta is one of 20 global partners that Uber has enlisted for its ride-hailing, delivery, and freight services, contributing to a remarkable rate of 1.5 million mobility and delivery trips annually. In the United States, Uber has already integrated Waymo’s robotaxis into its app in cities like Austin, Atlanta, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Beyond the U.S., Uber has also formed partnerships with Momenta and other Chinese startups such as WeRide and Pony.ai to deploy robotaxis in the Middle East, with active services in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh and plans to expand to Dubai. Additionally, Uber has joined forces with UK-based Wayve to initiate public road trials of Level 4 autonomous vehicles in London. Level 4 autonomy indicates that vehicles can operate independently without human intervention under specific conditions. Uber has chosen Munich for this European launch due to the city's rich engineering legacy and robust automotive sector. Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, stated, "Germany has shaped the global automotive industry for more than a century, and now Munich will help shape the future with autonomous vehicles." TechCrunch has reached out to both Uber and Momenta to inquire about the status of their certification process in Germany. Momenta will need to demonstrate compliance with safety regulations and obtain approvals for its designated operational areas, known as geo-fenced zones. This venture could mark Momenta’s inaugural robotaxi deployment in Europe, as the company is already operating a service in Shanghai and plans to roll out a commercial offering with onboard safety operators by the end of the year. In parallel, Momenta is advancing its Level 4 capabilities and deploying advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in collaboration with major automotive manufacturers, including German brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. Currently, Momenta’s ADAS is installed in 400,000 vehicles sold to consumers.