Uber is set to begin testing fully driverless cars in Germany in partnership with Chinese autonomous driving company, Momenta. The pilot, scheduled to kick off in Munich in 2026, will deploy Level 4 autonomous vehicles capable of operating without human input in approved zones. Initially, safety operators will remain behind the wheel before a full shift to complete autonomy.
Chief Executive Officer of Uber, Dara Khosrowshahi, said Munich will play a pioneering role in shaping the future of mobility, noting Germany’s legacy as a global automotive powerhouse. Momenta, founded in 2016, is already a leading force in China’s self-driving industry with robotaxi operations in Shanghai and driver-assist systems installed in more than 400,000 vehicles globally for brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, and General Motors.
The move marks another step in Uber’s global strategy to work with multiple autonomous vehicle partners. The company currently has over 20 partnerships worldwide, generating more than 1.5 million driverless trips annually. In the U.S., Uber already operates with Waymo’s robotaxis in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, while in the Middle East it partners with Momenta and WeRide in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.
Before operations commence in Munich, German regulators will need to approve the vehicles and their operating areas. If successful, the trials could pave the way for Uber and Momenta to spearhead the rollout of large-scale driverless taxi services across Europe, intensifying competition with rivals like Lyft, Volkswagen, and UK-based Wayve.