Uber announced on Monday that it plans to begin testing robotaxis in Germany in 2026, marking its first step toward launching autonomous ride-hailing services in Europe.

The trials will involve Level 4 autonomous vehicles, which can operate without human intervention in designated zones and under specific conditions. Uber hopes to become the first company to roll out robotaxi services in Europe, although rival Lyft has also applied for test permits in Germany and the UK for 2026, using vehicles developed by Chinese tech giant Baidu.

Uber is working with several partners, including Alphabet’s Waymo, Lucid, and WeRide. For its German trials, it will collaborate with Momenta, a Chinese autonomous driving software company whose systems are already deployed in more than 400,000 vehicles worldwide.

The robotaxi market has become a strategic priority for major players. Tesla recently launched pilot services in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, while safety concerns remain a central hurdle for regulators. In 2023, General Motors suspended its robotaxi operations in San Francisco following a series of accidents involving autonomous cars.

Uber is also awaiting approval to conduct trials in the UK, where the government plans to finalize regulations for autonomous vehicles in the second half of 2027.