Uber and Pony.ai to Launch Robotaxi Service in London

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Uber and Chinese autonomous vehicle maker Pony.ai will begin testing Pony.ai's Gen-7 robotaxis in London, expanding their partnership to Europe with plans for widespread autonomous ride services.

Uber has expanded its ambitious autonomous vehicle strategy by partnering with Chinese self-driving car manufacturer Pony.ai to introduce robotaxi services in London. The companies announced they would begin testing Pony.ai's latest Gen-7 robotaxis in the city within weeks, marking a significant step in their European push.

This London initiative builds on a partnership that started in May 2025, initially targeting the Middle East market. The collaboration has since broadened to Europe, with plans to deploy 2,000 robotaxis beginning in Zagreb, Croatia. In August 2026, Uber, Pony.ai, and the startup Verne launched an autonomous ride-hailing service in Zagreb, where Pony.ai provides the autonomous technology and vehicles, Verne manages the fleet, and Uber connects riders through its platform.

Though specific ownership and operational details for the London fleet have yet to be disclosed, the model likely follows the established tripartite structure. Additionally, Uber maintains a multi-partner approach to robotaxis in London, also collaborating with British startup Wayve, which secured substantial funding—including $1.2 billion from a 2026 round featuring Microsoft, Nvidia, and Uber—and plans to deploy robotaxis in London as well.

Globally, Uber aims to offer autonomous vehicle trips in up to 15 cities by the end of 2026, with a balanced presence across U.S. and international markets. In line with this, Uber has multiple robotaxi agreements in other locations, such as partnerships with Baidu and WeRide in Dubai.

Pony.ai brings extensive experience, operating robotaxi services in four Chinese cities and forming ties with local transport authorities. Its expansion into Europe and the Middle East, including Qatar, aligns with Uber’s broader strategy to capture the autonomous ride-hailing segment through diverse collaborations.