Uber ups robotaxi offensive in Europe, with partnership expansion

Uber is intensifying its robotaxi push across Europe following a new partnership with Chinese autonomous driving firm Pony.ai. The US ride-hailing giant and Pony.ai are deploying over 2,000 of Pony.ai's self-driving taxis in four European cities, as the commercialization of autonomous vehicles accelerates. The collaboration began in May 2025, with the companies announcing plans to bring Pony.ai robotaxis to the Uber platform in international markets.

In 2026, Pony.ai and Uber collaborated with Croatian mobility firm Verne to launch commercial robotaxis in Zagreb. Pony.ai, which operates in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, hasn't disclosed the specific European cities for their rollout or the deployment timeline. The autonomous driving race is heating up in Europe, with Waymo reportedly setting up operations in France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany.

Uber and WeRide have announced a robotaxi pilot in Madrid this year, while Lyft plans to introduce robotaxis to Europe next year. Meanwhile, Baidu's autonomous driving unit has conducted test drives in Switzerland, and automotive giants BMW and Volkswagen have been exploring autonomous driving technologies. Pony.ai's CEO, James Peng, stated that the expanded agreement marks a significant step in the partnership with Uber, reflecting their joint commitment to delivering safe, reliable robotaxi services in more European cities.

The goal is to establish scalable commercial operations across Europe and beyond, leveraging Pony.ai's autonomous driving technology and operational expertise alongside Uber's global mobility platform and extensive market reach.