Uber and Chinese self-driving technology startup MomentaAnnounceIt is expected to start testing self-driving taxi services in Europe from 2026. The first test city will be Munich, Germany, and there are plans to gradually expand to other European markets in the future.
Momenta chose Munich as its launch location primarily due to its strong engineering R&D foundation, comprehensive automotive ecosystem, and openness to innovative technologies. Initial testing will involve a safety driver, based on Level 4 autonomous driving technology, and will connect ride requests through the Uber platform, gradually promoting the implementation of autonomous driving services.
Momenta’s technical background and European competitive landscape
Founded in China, Momenta is one of the earliest startups to invest in self-driving car research and development. Since 2018, it has been conducting self-driving tests in various regions across China and plans to launch commercial services in Shanghai in 2026. In addition to self-driving taxis, Momenta also provides ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) to numerous autocreaters, including Mercedes-Benz and Audi, with a cumulative installation volume exceeding 40 units.
Uber has invested in self-driving car development in the past, but after a safety accident and a lawsuit with Waymo in 2020, it later decided to withdraw from the self-development route and instead cooperate with a number of self-driving technology suppliers, includingWeRide (WeRide), Pony.ai, Wayve, and Momenta, which announced its cooperation this time.
While Europe’s self-driving car market started relatively slowly, it has been catching up rapidly in the past two years. Baidu’s Apollo Go recently announced plans to test self-driving taxis in Switzerland. Another Chinese startup, WeRide, also launched a pilot program in Switzerland earlier this year and a self-driving shuttle service in France.
Now that Uber has entered the self-driving taxi market, Europe will become the third largest stage for competing in the self-driving taxi market after the United States and China.
Challenges and opportunities coexist
Under German regulations, Uber and Momenta must obtain government approval and establish geofenced zones within which they are permitted to operate before they can actually operate on local roads. This also demonstrates that the challenges of commercializing self-driving cars lie not only in technology but also in regulatory compliance, consumer acceptance, and insurance adjustments.
A successful launch in Germany would allow Uber to further develop its self-driving services in Europe and even replicate its experience in other major cities. For Momenta, this would be its first large-scale enattempt into Europe, and a successful market expansion would facilitate its technology expansion and brand internationalization.
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