Uber and Pony.ai Expand Partnership to Deploy Over 2,000 Robotaxis in Europe

Rideshare giant Uber has announced an expanded international partnership with autonomous driving developer Pony.ai that will bring more than 2,000 Pony.ai Robotaxis to Europe, with plans to extend the collaboration into the Middle East. The agreement builds on an initial commercial launch in Zagreb alongside local fleet operator Verne and signals a deliberate move toward scaling driverless ride services across multiple markets.

The expanded rollout will introduce driverless rides into the Uber platform in four new European cities, with specific locations and timelines to be revealed in phases. By coordinating the deployment across multiple markets, the partners aim to transition from isolated pilots to a repeatable commercial model that can be rolled out efficiently across urban centers.

The next chapter for autonomous mobility is about moving from individual launches to repeatable commercial scale… Together with Pony.ai, we’re combining advanced autonomous technology with Uber’s hybrid platform, on-the-ground experience, and operational excellence, to build a model that can quickly and reliably expand across cities.

Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, emphasized that the collaboration focuses on marrying Pony.ai’s autonomous driving capabilities with Uber’s strengths in customer-facing operations. Under the terms of the partnership, Pony.ai will provide Level 4 autonomous driving technology along with operational expertise for pilot and production services. Uber will integrate those services into its global mobility app, handling customer booking, payment processing, routing, and customer support.

How the Joint Deployment Will Work

The alliance sets out a clear division of responsibilities. Pony.ai contributes the core autonomous driving software and the hardware integration knowledge required for safe, driverless operation at Level 4. Uber contributes the platform and customer-facing infrastructure that connects riders with vehicles at scale. Local fleet partners will play a central role in day-to-day operations and vehicle ownership, adapting the solution to meet local regulatory and market requirements.

This hybrid approach—where technology, platform, and local operators each play a distinct role—allows the partners to combine strengths while remaining sensitive to local market conditions. Local fleet operators typically manage vehicle maintenance, charging or fueling logistics, and operational staffing where required, enabling a smoother and more compliant deployment in each city.

Strategic Importance and Expansion Path

For Pony.ai, the agreement represents a meaningful step in expanding its commercial footprint beyond China, where it already operates fully driverless Robotaxi services. For Uber, the partnership is a way to accelerate the integration of autonomous mobility into its global service offering without having to build every element of the technology stack in-house.

By initially launching in a limited number of cities and expanding in phases, the partners can collect operational data, refine safety and user experience, and scale in a controlled manner. That phased approach also helps address regulatory and infrastructure differences between markets while giving Uber’s platform teams time to optimize booking, routing, and customer support flows for driverless trips.

What Riders Can Expect

Riders in participating cities will use the familiar Uber app to request trips serviced by Pony.ai Robotaxis. From booking and payment to routing and customer support, the experience aims to match the convenience riders expect from Uber while delivering the benefits of autonomous operation, such as consistent vehicle availability and potentially lower operating costs in the long term. Local fleet partners will ensure vehicles are maintained and operated in line with local rules and safety protocols.

Specific schedules and city-by-city launch details will be announced over time as the partners finalize operational plans and secure any necessary approvals. This measured rollout is intended to create repeatable processes and operational playbooks that can be applied across additional cities and regions.

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Overall, the expanded agreement between Uber and Pony.ai marks a notable step toward mainstreaming autonomous mobility in Europe and, eventually, the Middle East. By combining Pony.ai’s Level 4 capabilities with Uber’s global platform and local operational partners, the collaboration aims to create a scalable, repeatable model for driverless ride services that can be adapted to diverse cities and regulatory environments.