Uber Partners with Chinese Self-Driving Firm Momenta for Robotaxi Deployment
Uber announced on Friday its latest autonomous vehicle partnership with Chinese self-driving firm Momenta. This collaboration comes as Uber continues to leverage its dominant position in the ride-hail and delivery markets while relying on external partners to provide the self-driving technology it does not develop in-house.
The partnership with Momenta follows closely on the heels of Uber’s recent addition of Ann Arbor-based May Mobility to its roster of AV collaborators, which includes industry giants like Volkswagen, Waymo, Wayve, and WeRide.
Starting in early 2026, Uber plans to integrate Momenta’s robotaxis into its app in Europe, with safety operators present onboard. Momenta CEO Xudong Cao expressed confidence in the partnership, stating that it completes the necessary ecosystem for scaling autonomous driving on a global level.
Uber’s strategic alliances in the autonomous vehicle space extend beyond just passenger vehicles, encompassing trucking and delivery services as well. This move comes amidst potential competition from Tesla, which is set to launch its first robotaxi service in Austin later this year. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made ambitious promises about the self-driving capabilities of Tesla vehicles, hinting at a future where all Tesla cars can be used for ride-hail services with a simple software update.
It is worth noting that Uber previously had its own self-driving unit but decided to divest it to Aurora Innovation in 2020, opting instead to focus on collaborations with external partners like Momenta.
