Uber and Pony.ai plan to bring 2,000 robotaxis to Europe

Uber and Pony.ai, a Chinese autonomous driving technology company, have announced an expanded partnership that aims to bring 2,000 robotaxis to four cities in Europe. The move underscores the growing ambitions of both firms to capture a share of the emerging robotaxi market.

Uber has collaborated with more than 30 autonomous vehicle companies over the past several years, including Pony.ai. Meanwhile, Pony.ai has already launched its services in four Chinese cities and has secured partnerships with local transport authorities to expand its robotaxis to European and Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar.

The companies did not provide a timeline for deployment or name the specific cities, saying only that details would be announced in phases. However, the expanded partnership has clarified some terms, giving Pony.ai's "joint-deployment model" a clearer path to commercial scale. Under this model, the Guangzhou-based company will supply the autonomous vehicle technology, while Uber will contribute its extensive ride-hailing platform. Fleet management—including maintenance, cleaning, and charging—can be handled by a local provider, and ownership of the robotaxi fleet may vary depending on the market, according to the companies.

Uber and Pony.ai first partnered in May 2025, focusing on the Middle East. Earlier this year, they turned to Europe and revealed plans to launch a commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, together with local company Verne.