Analyst(s): Olivier Blanchard
Publication Date: September 17, 2025
Uber and Momenta will begin testing Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Munich in 2026, with the goal of launching a robotaxi service. The collaboration highlights Europe’s push to catch up with the US and China in driverless mobility.
What is Covered in this Article:
- Uber and Momenta’s plan to test Level 4 robotaxis in Munich in 2026
- Integration of Momenta’s AI-driven technology into Uber’s platform
- Momenta’s existing Shanghai operations and 400,000-vehicle ADAS footprint
- Competitive moves by Lyft, Baidu, Volkswagen, and Rimac in Europe
- Regulatory hurdles facing robotaxi deployment in Germany and beyond
The News: Uber and Momenta are set to start testing Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Munich in 2026. The two companies are working together to bring Momenta’s AI-powered robotaxi tech onto Uber’s platform, with the goal of launching a commercial robotaxi service across Europe. The Munich tests will be the first rollout in Europe under a strategic deal signed in May 2025, focused on markets outside the US and China. At first, vehicles will have safety operators in the driver’s seat, but the long-term aim is to go fully driverless.
Can Uber Momenta Robotaxis Jump-Start Europe’s Driverless Future?
Analyst Take: Kicking off testing in Munich puts Germany at the center of Uber and Momenta’s push into Europe’s autonomous ride-hailing scene. Europe has been slower than the US and China to get commercial driverless services going, so this launch could be a significant market milestone. Momenta’s tech, which is already operating in Shanghai, will pair with Uber’s global reach to essentially provide Europe with a useful case study in readiness for this potential shift.
Momenta’s Two-Leg Strategy
Momenta is taking a two-pronged approach: growing advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) through automaker partnerships while building out full robotaxi tech. So far, over 400,000 cars globally are running with Momenta’s ADAS, feeding in loads of real-world data. That data is helping fine-tune their Level 4 systems, with plans to go fully driverless in Shanghai by the end of the year. The European rollout is the next logical step, using their ADAS foundation to break into highly regulated markets.
Strategic Importance of Munich
Munich is a city known for its deep automotive roots, strong engineering sector, and willingness to embrace new tech. Momenta is already working with German giants like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which I think plays into the local trust factor needed for this experiment to work. (The fact that the relationship between local automakers and Momenta could make it easier for people to accept robotaxis, especially in a market known for being cautious with new mobility ideas.) Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called Munich a key piece in shaping the future of autonomous vehicles, highlighting its broader importance.
Competitive Pressures in Europe
Lyft and Baidu’s Apollo Go are also planning to launch in Germany and the UK in 2026, setting up direct competition with the Uber and Momenta project. Volkswagen, for its part, is already running autonomous vehicle tests in Germany and is teaming up with Uber for a US launch in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Rimac’s Verne robotaxi is also prepping for a European debut in 2026. All this sets up a tight race, with several players trying to win over regulators and riders at the same time. For Uber and Momenta, a strong showing in Munich is key if they want to expand further across Europe.
I can’t help but note that this increasingly competitive activity spells trouble for Tesla’s own robotaxi market ambitions: The combination of a very crowded field and low volume plays directly against Tesla’s optimistic projections for its own success there.
Regulatory Challenges Ahead
Even with all of this frenzy of activity and interest, a lot of red tape stands in the way of this nascent market scaling anytime soon. For now, Uber and Momenta will have to prove that their vehicles can safely drive themselves, follow strict safety rules, and stick to clearly defined routes. Regulators will be looking for consistency across different conditions, including rough weather, before giving them the green light.
This means that, at least for now, safety drivers will stay in the vehicles during testing to meet compliance needs. Only after ticking all the regulatory boxes will Uber and Momenta push ahead with a fully driverless rollout. If they cannot clear these hurdles, their European plans could hit a wall. This, obviously, applies to all competitors in the market, so 2026 will serve mostly as a proving ground for these mobility solutions and services rather than the beginning of category growth at scale.
What to Watch:
- Approval timelines from German regulators for Level 4 autonomous operations
- Competitive launches from Lyft/Baidu Apollo Go, Volkswagen, and Rimac in 2026
- Transition from safety operators to fully driverless vehicles in Munich
- Expansion of Uber-Momenta robotaxi services to additional European cities
- Momenta’s commercial rollout of fully driverless robotaxis in Shanghai by year-end
See the complete press release on Uber and Momenta’s Munich testing plans on the Momenta website.
Disclosure: Futurum is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of Futurum as a whole.
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Author Information
Olivier Blanchard is Research Director, Intelligent Devices. He covers edge semiconductors and intelligent AI-capable devices for Futurum. In addition to having co-authored several books about digital transformation and AI with Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman, Blanchard brings considerable experience demystifying new and emerging technologies, advising clients on how best to future-proof their organizations, and helping maximize the positive impacts of technology disruption while mitigating their potentially negative effects. Follow his extended analysis on X and LinkedIn.
