Uber Partners With Chinese AV Firms for Global Robotaxis

Uber has announced major partnerships with Chinese autonomous vehicle firms Pony AI, WeRide, and Momenta to expand its robotaxi services internationally, focusing on markets in the Middle East and Europe. The deal with Pony AI will see robotaxis launched on Uber’s platform in a key Middle Eastern city later this year, initially with safety operators before moving to fully autonomous rides. Uber’s strategy also includes a collaboration with Momenta for a 2026 European rollout and with WeRide for expansion into 15 cities across Europe and the Middle East. These moves aim to position Uber as a leader in the emerging robotaxi market, competing with companies like Tesla and Waymo. Pony AI, backed by Toyota and operating in China, saw a share price surge after the announcement. The expansion comes amid growing regulatory support for autonomous vehicles, though technical and regulatory hurdles remain.