Uber and China’s Pony.ai plan to launch robotaxis in London
The two companies said on Thursday that they would begin testing Pony.ai's Gen-7 robotaxis in London in the coming weeks.
Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle company Pony.ai have announced plans to launch robotaxi services in London as part of their expanding partnership to bring driverless cars to Europe. The companies announced their intentions on Thursday, stating they would begin testing Pony.ai's Gen-7 robotaxis in London in the coming weeks. This move is part of Uber's broader strategy to enter the autonomous vehicle market through a network of partnerships and investments.
Uber has collaborated with over 30 autonomous vehicle companies, aiming to capture a share of the autonomous delivery and ride-hailing markets. The ride-hailing giant aims to offer autonomous vehicle trips in up to 15 cities globally by the end of 2026, with roughly an equal split between U.S. and international markets. Uber and Pony.ai's partnership began in May 2025, initially focusing on the Middle East.
The two have since expanded their collaboration to Europe, where they plan to deploy 2,000 robotaxis, starting with Zagreb, Croatia's capital. In August 2026, the companies will launch an autonomous ride-hailing service in Zagreb, partnering with Verne, a startup founded by Rimac Group CEO Mate Rimac. Verne will own and operate the fleet, while Pony.ai supplies the autonomous driving system and the Arcfox Alpha T5 robotaxi, developed in collaboration with Chinese automaker BAIC.
The London service will follow a similar model, though the ownership and operation of the fleet have not been disclosed. This expansion of robotaxi services is not the only partnership Uber has in London. The company has also teamed up with British self-driving startup Wayve, with which it plans to launch a robotaxi service. Wayve recently raised $1.2 billion in funding, with Uber contributing an additional $300 million contingent on Wayve deploying robotaxis in London.
Uber has pursued a multi-partner approach in other markets. In Dubai, for instance, Uber has partnered with Baidu and WeRide to launch robotaxi services. Pony.ai has already launched robotaxi services in four Chinese cities and has formed partnerships with local transportation authorities to expand into European and Middle Eastern markets, including Qatar.
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