Chinese autonomous vehicle maker Pony.ai and Uber have announced an expanded partnership to deploy 2,000 robotaxis across four European cities, marking a significant step in their efforts to capture a share of the emerging autonomous ride-hailing market.
The announcement underscores the growing ambitions of both companies as they compete in the rapidly evolving robotaxi sector. Uber has collaborated with more than 30 autonomous vehicle companies, including Pony.ai, over the past several years to integrate self-driving technology into its platform. Meanwhile, Pony.ai, headquartered in Guangzhou, has launched operations in four Chinese cities and secured partnerships with local transportation authorities, with plans to extend its footprint to European and Middle Eastern markets, including Qatar.
While Uber and Pony.ai have not disclosed a specific timeline for deployment or named the exact cities, they indicated that details will be revealed in phases. The expanded partnership clarifies the operational framework, with Pony.ai supplying the autonomous vehicle technology and Uber providing its extensive ride-hailing platform. Fleet management—covering maintenance, cleaning, and charging—may be handled by local providers, and fleet ownership could vary depending on the market.
The two companies first partnered in May 2025, initially focusing on the Middle East. Earlier this year, they turned their attention to Europe, announcing plans to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, in collaboration with local firm Verne. This new expansion into four additional European cities is expected to build on that foundation, leveraging Uber's global reach and Pony.ai's advanced self-driving capabilities.
As the robotaxi industry continues to mature in 2026, partnerships like this are becoming increasingly critical for scaling operations and navigating diverse regulatory landscapes. With the backing of Uber's established infrastructure and Pony.ai's technological expertise, this deployment could serve as a model for future cross-border autonomous vehicle initiatives.
via TechCrunch