Uber and Momenta to Test Robotaxis in Munich 2026

Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle startup Momenta announced plans to begin robotaxi testing in Munich, Germany in 2026. This marks the first public continental European deployment either company has named and signals a renewed push to bring Level 4 autonomous services to Europe’s streets.

What the pilot will look like

According to the partners, Momenta-powered vehicles will launch on Uber’s platform in 2026 with human safety operators onboard to monitor and take control if necessary. Momenta must secure German regulatory approval—demonstrating safety standards and signing off on geo-fenced operating areas—before public operations begin.

Why Munich

Uber cited Munich’s engineering heritage and its robust automotive ecosystem as reasons for the choice. The city offers proximity to German automakers, suppliers, testing infrastructure, and a regulatory environment that’s deeply experienced with high-stakes automotive trials.

The players and the competition

Momenta, founded in 2016, is a major Chinese AV company with ADAS deployments already in hundreds of thousands of production vehicles and robotaxi tests in China. Uber has built a network of about 20 AV partners globally and already lists Waymo rides in several U.S. cities and partnerships with WeRide, Pony.ai and others in the Middle East. Lyft’s deal with Baidu to deploy robotaxis in Europe shows how competitive this market has become.

Regulatory and operational hurdles

Before Munich sees robotaxis without human drivers, Momenta will need to prove safety through data, simulations, and on-road trials. Authorities will evaluate technical safety, failover behavior, and the boundaries of geo-fenced zones. Public acceptance, infrastructure readiness, and clear operational limits will shape how rapidly the service scales.

What to watch next

• Regulatory approvals and the timelines for geo-fenced operating areas.
• How quickly Uber integrates Momenta vehicles into its app and pricing models.
• Competitive responses from rivals like Lyft/Baidu, Waymo, WeRide and European automakers.

Broader implications

A successful Munich pilot would be a milestone for AV adoption in Europe, offering a template for safety validation, regulatory collaboration, and commercial rollout. It also underscores how global AV partnerships—linking Silicon Valley platforms with Chinese autonomy stacks and European auto heritage—are shaping the next phase of mobility.

How organizations should prepare

City planners, regulators, and operators should prioritize data-sharing frameworks, clear geo-fence standards, and public communication strategies. Automakers and fleet operators must validate ADAS handoff behaviors, emergency response plans, and the human-machine interface for any interim safety operators.

Munich’s pilot will be a close test of how commercial platforms, AV developers, and regulators coordinate across borders. If Momenta and Uber clear the approvals and demonstrate reliable operations, expect a faster rollout across other European cities as incumbents and newcomers race to claim scaling advantage.