Uber and Momenta plan to test robotaxis in Munich in 2026

Ride-hailing service Uber and Momenta, a Chinese specialist in autonomous driving, plan to test Level 4 autonomous driving in Munich starting next year. The goal is to establish a robotaxi service not only in the Bavarian capital, but also in other European cities.

Uber and Momenta announced back in May that they intend to collaborate on the introduction of autonomous vehicles on the Uber platform in Europe and other markets outside the US and China.

The announcement that Munich will be the starting point for Uber and Momenta’s Level 4 testing in Europe now makes this collaboration a reality. Although the companies have not specified an exact start date, it is expected to be in 2026. Momenta and Uber must meet strict regulatory requirements: not only must they prove that the robotaxis can drive autonomously and comply with all safety requirements, but they must also define a specific operating area and obtain official approval.

“Germany has shaped the global automotive industry for more than a century, and now Munich will help shape the future with autonomous vehicles,” says Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber.

The partners cite Munich’s deep-rooted engineering tradition, first-class automotive ecosystem and openness to innovation as reasons for choosing the city, saying it is uniquely positioned to bring autonomous mobility to European roads. Momenta is already a partner of Munich-based manufacturer BMW and its rival Mercedes-Benz. Both brands already use Momenta’s advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in the Chinese market.

“Testing L4 autonomous vehicles in Munich allows us to showcase how Momenta’s AI-driven Robotaxi technology can transform urban mobility, as a new chapter in the region’s rich automotive heritage,” said Xudong Cao, CEO of Momenta.

Momenta is one of 20 partners with whom ride-hailing provider Uber is now cooperating on autonomous driving. The announcement of a collaboration with Volkswagen caused quite a stir, as it means that a robotaxi version of the ID. Buzz will soon be available to book via Uber in the US. The ID. Buzz is also set to be used in the ALIKE project in Hamburg, but without Uber’s involvement.

In Europe, another US-Chinese duo is poised to launch a robot taxi service alongside Uber/Momenta: Uber’s rival Lyft has announced that it will offer autonomous vehicles from Baidu subsidiary Apollo Go on its platform in its first European markets starting in 2026. The robot taxi debut is planned for next year in Germany and the UK, subject to regulatory approvals. And Croatian electric car manufacturer Rimac wants to launch a robot taxi service called Verne in Europe in 2026 and has developed a new vehicle specifically for this purpose.

momenta.cn, uber.com (in German)