Uber introduced a strategic partnership with three Chinese language self-driving startups to deploy their tech on the Uber platform and produce it to the worldwide markets. The partnership focuses on European markets and the Center East, whereas steering away from China and the US.
The three Chinese language startups are Pony.ai, Momenta, and WeRide.
The primary deployment of the Momenta-powered robotaxis on the Uber platform will happen in Europe originally of 2026. Security operators can be on board within the first part of operations. Uber introduced its partnership with Moementa on Could 2.
“This collaboration permits extra riders worldwide to expertise inexpensive autonomous mobility,” mentioned Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO, Uber.
Momenta is a Chinese language autonomous driving startup based in September 2016. It’s backed by SAIC Motor, Basic Motors, or Toyota. Since 2021, it has offered self-driving software program to SAIC’s premium model IM.
Pony.ai was the newest to announce cooperation with a US car-hailing large, claiming the primary Uber robotaxis powered by their tech will launch within the Center East by the top of the 12 months, with different worldwide markets to observe. As soon as out there, ride-requesting Uber customers can select a human driver or Pony.ai autonomous autos. Within the pilot part, there can be an operator on board.
“Partnering with Uber accelerates our shared mission to make autonomous mobility a actuality,” mentioned Dr. James Peng, CEO of Pony.ai. We’ll begin within the Center East earlier than increasing to new markets,” Peng continued.
“Our partnership with Pony.ai is one other step in direction of introducing autonomous mobility to the world,” mentioned Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber.
Pony.ai is backed by Toyota and Nio and was based in December 2016 by James Peng and Tiancheng Lou, former builders at Baidu. It’s headquartered in Guangzhou and holds permits for driverless ride-hailing companies in Beijing and Guangzhou.
WeRide is one other Chinese language autonomous driving firm providing its robotaxis on the Uber platform. The businesses already introduced strategic cooperation in September 2024 and as we speak introduced that their fleet in Abu Dhabi will attain 50 robotaxis by mid-2025. Uber and WeRide plan to develop to a number of new cities yearly, overlaying 15 cities within the subsequent 5 years, together with Europe.
WeRide is backed by Bosch, Nvidia or Blackrock and was based in 2017 in Guangzhou by Tony Han, former chief of autonomous driving unit in Baidu. The corporate presently holds autonomous driving permits in China, the US, the UAE and Singapore.
