Uber has forged a collaborative agreement with three pioneering Chinese autonomous driving companies to integrate their innovative technologies onto its global platform, thereby expanding their market reach. The partnership concentrates its efforts on the European market and the Middle East, deliberately avoiding China and the United States.
Three Chinese language startups driving innovation in the tech sector are Pony.ai, Momenta, and WeRide.
The initial deployment of Momenta-powered robotaxis on the Uber platform is scheduled to take place in Europe in early 2026. Security operators may be deployed onboard at the inception of mission operations. Uber announced its collaboration with Moëmenta on May 2.
“With this partnership, we’re empowering more people globally to experience affordable and autonomous transportation options,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber.
Momenta, a Chinese-language-based autonomous driving startup, was founded in September 2016. Backed by one of the world’s leading automakers – SAIC Motor, General Motors, or Toyota. Since 2021, the company has provided its self-driving software to SAIC for their premium IM model.
Pony.ai has announced its latest partnership with a major US-based ride-hailing company, marking another milestone in the development of autonomous vehicles. By year’s end, the first Uber robotaxis powered by Pony.ai technology is expected to hit the streets of the Middle East, with other global markets waiting in line for their turn. Starting next week, ride-hailing users will have the option to choose between a human driver or a Pony.ai autonomous vehicle for their Uber ride. The aircraft may potentially have a pilot on board during the initial launch phase.
“By partnering with Uber, we are accelerating the realization of our joint vision to bring autonomous mobility to life,” said Dr. James Peng, CEO of Pony.ai. “We will start by consolidating our presence in the Middle East before expanding into new markets.”
“Demonstrating its commitment to shaping the future of transportation, Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi underscored the significance of their collaboration with Pony.ai, a move that brings autonomous mobility solutions closer to reality.”
Pony.ai, a startup backed by Toyota and Nio, was founded in December 2016 by James Peng and Tiancheng Lou, who previously worked at Baidu as engineers. Headquartered in Guangzhou, the company possesses necessary permits for operating driverless ride-hailing services in both Beijing and Guangzhou.
China-based WeRide is another autonomous driving company offering its robotaxi services on the Uber platform. The two companies announced a strategic partnership in September 2024, unveiling plans to expand their robotaxi fleet in Abu Dhabi to 50 vehicles by mid-2025. Uber and WeRide are poised to expand their reach by adding up to 15 new cities annually over the next five years, with European expansion on the horizon.
Backed by the likes of Bosch, Nvidia, and BlackRock, WeRide was founded in 2017 in Guangzhou by Tony Han, a veteran in the autonomous driving space having previously served as the chief of the autonomous driving unit at Baidu. The company currently holds autonomous driving permits in four key markets: China, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.
