Uber just delivered Europe's biggest autonomous vehicle breakthrough yet. The ridehailing giant announced it will test Level 4 robotaxis in Munich starting 2026 through a partnership with Chinese AI company Momenta, marking a crucial step in Europe's race to catch up with US and Chinese driverless technology deployment.
Uber just shifted the autonomous vehicle landscape in Europe with a single announcement. The company revealed it will partner with Shanghai-based Momenta to test Level 4 robotaxis in Munich starting 2026, bringing fully driverless vehicles to a continent that's been watching from the sidelines as the US and China race ahead in commercial deployments.
The timing couldn't be more strategic. While Waymo operates thousands of robotaxis across Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and Chinese companies like Baidu run commercial services in Beijing and Wuhan, Europe has remained largely a testing ground rather than a deployment destination. Munich represents Uber's bet that European regulatory frameworks are finally ready for the real thing.
Momenta brings serious credentials to this partnership. The Shanghai-based company has secured funding from automotive heavyweights including GM, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Bosch, along with China's state-owned SAIC Motor. According to Reuters reporting, the company already supplies driver assistance software to Mercedes and BMW production vehicles, giving it deep integration with European automotive supply chains.
The Level 4 designation is crucial here. Unlike Level 2 or 3 systems that require human oversight, Level 4 vehicles operate completely autonomously within defined geographic areas. That means no safety drivers, no remote monitoring requirements, and full commercial operation capability. It's the same classification that Tesla has been promising for years with Full Self-Driving but has yet to achieve at commercial scale.
Uber initially announced the Momenta partnership earlier this year, but those vehicles were expected to launch with safety monitors behind the wheel. The Munich deployment represents an acceleration of that timeline and a confidence vote in Momenta's technology maturity. According to company statements, successful Munich operations could expand to additional European cities, potentially giving a continent-wide autonomous network.
