Momenta, another major Beijng-based startup founded in 2016, is preparing to deploy its autonomous vehicles (AVs) to start testing in Germany. They are collaborating with Uber on this thrilling little experiment in 2026. This partnership is truly a watershed moment for both organizations. They’re clearly enthusiastic about shoring up their position in the highly competitive international AV market.
Since then, Momenta has quickly established itself as one of China’s AV pioneers. It started testing self-driving cars in its home country as far back as 2018. The company has gained recognition for its advanced technology and innovation, making it a key player in China’s autonomous vehicle landscape. With a deep database growing available, Momenta is now positioned to roll its technology out of China.
Uber first announced its partnership with Momenta in May 2025, highlighting the importance of collaboration in advancing autonomous vehicle technology. Momenta-powered vehicles will soon be on the road on Uber’s platform throughout Europe. The first deployment is expected to take place in 2026 as a result of this great partnership. In the early years of these vehicles, human safety operators will be present. They’ll remain engaged with the driving task and intervene when necessary.
With Momenta’s SaaS-based ADAS solutions, these systems are already deployed and activated on nearly 400,000 vehicles sold to customers around the globe. This deep launch experience bodes well for Momenta as it continues to get ready for its European launch. The firm has been operating an autonomous shared mobility service in Shanghai. It’s making a commercial rollout with onboard safety operators by the end of this year.
As Momenta continues down this path, it will have to figure out how to work within the German regulatory environment. As part of the certification process, the company will need to prove to German regulators that its vehicles adhere to strict safety tests. Before any testing can start, local regulators need to approve the designated operating areas where the AVs will be tested. These spaces have come to be referred to as geo-fenced zones.
Uber and Momenta are hoping to launch Level 4 autonomous vehicles on public roads—without a human driver—after these controlled tests. Level 4 autonomy, the vehicle operates without human engagement outside of a geo-fenced area. That innovation makes it much more likely that self-driving tech will be broadly deployed.
In fact, Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, said that this announcement was the biggest thing to happen for transportation since they started this whole ridesharing model.
“Germany has shaped the global automotive industry for more than a century, and now Munich will help shape the future with autonomous vehicles,” – Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber.
As an initial step, the partnership between Momenta and Uber marks an important milestone in the development of autonomous mobility. Both companies seem poised to tackle serious, ambitious projects on the home front in Germany. They are thrilled to take part in moving their technology forward and keeping the U.S. ahead globally on self-driving tech.
