Uber, Momenta to Trial Driverless Cars from 2026

Uber is preparing to test fully driverless cars in Germany, working with Chinese autonomous driving company Momenta. 

The pilot will begin in Munich in 2026 and, if successful, could expand to other European cities.

The vehicles will be Level 4 autonomous, meaning they can drive without human input within approved zones. At the initial stage, safety operators will remain behind the wheel to monitor operations before the shift to complete autonomy.

Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s chief executive officer, said: “Germany has shaped the global automotive industry for more than a century, and now Munich will help shape the future with autonomous vehicles.”

Momenta, founded in 2016, has been a central player in China’s self-driving industry. It already runs a robotaxi service in Shanghai and supplies driver-assist technology to carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, and General Motors. Its systems are currently installed in more than 400,000 vehicles worldwide.

For Uber, the driverless cars trial is another step in its strategy of working with multiple autonomous vehicle partners. The company has signed over 20 such agreements across ride-hailing, freight, and delivery, generating more than 1.5 million trips annually. 

In the US, it offers rides with Waymo’s robotaxis in cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In the Middle East, it has partnered with WeRide and Momenta in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, with further expansion planned for Dubai.

Competition in Europe is also increasing as Lyft has joined forces with Baidu to launch robotaxi services in Germany and the UK from 2026, while Volkswagen has announced plans to roll out its own autonomous fleet with Uber in Los Angeles. UK-based Wayve is also working with Uber to begin Level 4 trials in London.

However, before Uber and Momenta can begin operations in Munich, regulatory approval will be required. German authorities will need to confirm the vehicles meet strict safety standards and authorise their designated operating areas.

If the trials succeed, Munich could become a launchpad for wider adoption of driverless taxis across Europe, placing Uber and Momenta among the first to introduce large-scale robotaxi services on the continent.